Device, method and system for swapping and/or charging a battery of a mobile robot

ABSTRACT

A battery station, for use by at least one mobile robot, includes a battery charging unit configured to perform at least one of: holding at least one battery, and charging at least one battery. A battery load/unload position is configured to facilitate loading and unloading of a battery to and from a mobile robot. A battery handling mechanism is configured to operate on a reaching range, comprising at least one of the following: (i) the battery of the mobile robot positioned in the battery load/unload position, and (ii) the battery charging unit. A localization element is configured to at least one of detect and locate at least one of: at least one battery of the mobile robot, wherein the mobile robot is positioned in the battery load/unload position, and/or at least one battery positioned in the battery charging unit.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/689,991, filed Nov. 20, 2019, which is a continuation ofPCT/EP2018/063606, filed May 24, 2018, which claims priority fromEuropean patent application no. 17173098.9, filed May 26, 2017, theentire contents of each of which are hereby fully incorporated herein byreference for all purposes.

FIELD

The invention relates to the field of swapping and charging a battery ofa mobile robot. More particularly, the present invention relates to adevice, method and a system that swaps and charges a battery of a mobilerobot.

INTRODUCTION

As technology improves mobile robots are becoming part of people'severyday life. More and more tasks are being automated and accomplishedby mobile robots. Further the need for a safer environment is drivingthe automotive industry into increasing the production of electricvehicles. Thus, the number of mobile robots and electric vehicles isincreasing more and more. In order to operate, usually, these mobilerobots and electric vehicles require electric energy, in other words abattery. However, after a specific operation time the batterydischarges. In most cases the operator of such mobile robots andelectric vehicles will remove the battery himself and put it forcharging in a power station. In another case, the operator may swap thedischarged battery with an already charged battery. In such cases theoperator has to lift the batteries himself. Usually such batteries areheavy and may cause damages to the physical health of the operator.Furthermore, if the operator does not have a charged battery he willhave to wait until the battery charges which interrupts the operation ofthe mobile robot or electric vehicle.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,967 describes a system for automatic loading,unloading and charging of rechargeable batteries used in battery poweredvehicles. The system comprises a storage rack for temporary storingbatteries. It further comprises one battery recharging station. Abattery transport apparatus swaps the discharged battery of the vehiclewith a charged one. The system further comprises a water check stationthat checks the water level of the batteries.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,963 describes a service center for replacing andrecharging an electric battery from electric vehicles. The systemcomprises a recharging unit for charging the batteries removed from anelectric vehicle. An electric vehicle is driven into a bay where aremoving-installation means removes the discharged battery from thevehicle. A transporting means transport the battery from the removalinstallation means to the recharging unit. The said transporting meanscan also transport a battery from a recharging unit to theremoval-installation means. The removal-installation means can installthe battery in the vehicle.

The present invention concerns a device wherein the elements requiredfor battery swapping of a mobile robot are integrated in one device.Further a system and a method comprising detecting, locating, swappingand/or charging a battery of a mobile robot is described.

SUMMARY

In a first embodiment, the invention discloses a battery station,preferably for use by at least one mobile robot. The battery stationcomprises a battery charging unit configured to perform at least one ofholding at least one battery and charging at least one battery. That is,the battery charging unit can be adapted to hold at least one battery bykeeping the battery fixed to it. The battery charging unit can also beadapted to charge at least one battery. The battery charging unit can beadvantageous, as it can allow the battery station to store at least onebattery, preferably a plurality of batteries, such as 2 to 10 batteries.The battery charging unit can also be advantageous, as it can allow thebattery station to charge at least one battery, preferably a pluralityof batteries, such as 2 to 10 batteries. The charging unit can beparticularly advantageous for the battery station and preferably for themobile robot if it is holding at least one charged battery or hasalready charged at least one battery. Thus, the battery station canprovide charged batteries preferably to the mobile robot without theneed for the robot to wait for its batteries to charge.

The battery station can further comprise a battery load/unload positionconfigured to facilitate loading and unloading of a battery to and froma mobile robot. That is, the battery load/unload position can beconfigured such that, when the mobile robot is positioned in the batteryload/unload position, the at least one of the batteries of the mobilerobot is aligned with the battery station, within a misalignment rangeof 0.1-2 cm, such as around 1 cm. The battery load/unload position canbe advantageous, as it can simplify at least one of load and unload ofthe battery from the mobile robot by the battery station.

The battery station can further comprise a battery handling mechanismconfigured to operate on a reaching range, said reaching rangecomprising at least one of battery of the mobile robot positioned in thebattery load/unload position and the battery charging unit. That is, thebattery handling mechanism can operate on its reaching range. Such areaching range can comprise the at least one of the batteries of themobile robot, when the mobile robot is positioned in the batteryload/unload position. The reaching range can also comprise the at leastone of the battery charging units of the battery station. Such areaching range can be advantageous as it can allow the battery handlingmechanism, thus the battery station, to reach at least one of thebatteries of the mobile robot positioned in the battery load unloadposition. The reaching range can also allow the battery handlingmechanism to reach the battery charging units, thus the batteries thatcan be in the battery charging units.

The battery charging unit can further comprise a localization elementconfigured to at least one of detect and locate at least one of thebatteries of a mobile robot, wherein the mobile robot is positioned inthe battery load/unload position and a battery positioned in a batterycharging unit. The localization element can thus detect if the mobilerobot comprising the battery is positioned in the battery load unloadposition. The localization element can also detect the presence of abattery of the mobile robot, when the mobile robot is positioned in thebattery load/unload position. Further the localization element candetect if a battery is positioned in a battery charging unit. That is,the localization element can detect the presence of a battery in abattery charging unit. Thus, the localization element can beadvantageous as it can allow the battery station to know when a mobilerobot is positioned in the battery load/unload position. It can also beadvantageous as it can allow the battery station to know when toinitiate the operation on the battery of a mobile robot, or on a batteryin the battery charging unit. The localization element can furtherlocate the battery of the mobile robot, when the mobile robot ispositioned in the battery load/unload position. That is, thelocalization element can find the position of the battery of the mobilerobot by directly locating the battery attached in the mobile robot. Thelocalization element can also locate the mobile robot and, based on theknowledge of the position of the battery in the mobile robot, theposition of the battery can be derived. The localization element canalso locate a battery positioned in at least one of the charging unitsof the battery station. That is, the localization element can find theposition of a battery positioned in a battery charging unit by directlylocating the battery. The localization element can also locate thebattery charging unit and, based on the knowledge of the position of thebattery in the charging unit, the position of the battery can bederived. By finding the position of the battery, the battery station caninfer the misalignment of the battery with the battery station. Suchmisalignment can comprise the offsets and rotations from the idealposition of the battery relatively to the battery handling mechanism.Based on the level of misalignment, the battery station can decide ifthe operation on the battery by the battery handling mechanism ispossible. In other words, past a certain threshold of misalignment, thebattery station may not be able to change the battery without risk ofdropping it or damaging any of the components, and in such a case, itmay be advantageous to abort the battery changing operation. Thelocalization element can be advantageous for the battery station,particularly if the battery handling mechanism can adjust its positionrelatively to the position of the battery, thus improving the alignmentof the battery of the mobile robot with the battery station,particularly with the battery handling mechanism. The localizationelement can also be advantageous for the battery station, particularlyfor the battery handling mechanism, as it can improve the alignment ofthe battery positioned in the battery charging unit with the batterystation, particularly with the battery handling mechanism.

In some embodiments, the battery station can be configured to facilitatethe positioning of the mobile robot in the battery load/unload position.That is, the battery station can facilitate the alignment of the mobilerobot, particularly of the at least one battery of the mobile robot,with the battery station, within a misalignment in the range of 0.1-2cm, such as around 1 cm. Such a feature of the battery station can beadvantageous, as it can improve the alignment of the mobile robot,particularly of the battery of the mobile robot, with the batterystation, particularly with the battery handling mechanism. Thus, themisalignment range can be smaller than in the case when the batterystation does not comprise such a feature.

In some embodiments, the battery station can further comprise at leastone guiding element configured to facilitate the positioning of themobile robot in the battery load/unload position. The guiding element isadvantageous for the battery station and preferably for the mobilerobot, as it can indicate to the mobile robot the battery load/unloadposition. In some embodiments, the guiding element can comprise at leastone marker, preferably a plurality of optical markers. Such markers canbe configured to increase the visibility of the guiding element, whichcan lead to the guiding element being easier to sense by the mobilerobot.

In some embodiments, the guiding element can be configured as a straightline. In some preferred embodiments, the guiding element can comprise aplurality of straight lines, such as 2 to 10 straight lines. Suchstraight lines can be configured to indicate the battery load/unloadposition. The straight lines can be advantageous as they can indicate tothe mobile robot the path they have to make to approach the batteryload/unload position when the mobile robot can sense them. The straightlines can comprise a pattern with a plurality of colors and lines orstrips of different width.

In some embodiments, the straight lines can be configured as anidentifier for the battery station or for a specific group of batterystations. That is, the battery station or a specific group of batterystations can comprise a specific width of any of the plurality ofstraight lines. The battery station, or a specific group of batterystations can also comprise a specific length of any of the plurality ofstraight lines. The battery station or a specific group of batterystations can also comprise a specific distance between any of theplurality of straight lines. The battery station or a specific group ofbattery stations can comprise a specific color of any of the pluralityof straight lines. The battery station or a specific group of batterystations can also comprise a specific number of straight lines. Such afeature of the straight lines can be advantageous for the batterystation and preferably for the mobile robot, as it can uniquely identifya battery station, or a specific group of battery station. Thus, themobile robot can know which of the battery stations or which group ofthe battery station it is using. The straight lines configured as abattery station identifier can also be advantageous, as they avoid theneed of implementing a separate identifier on the battery station byintegrating it into the plurality of the straight lines.

In some embodiments, the localization element can comprise at least oneinductive sensor, preferably a plurality of inductive sensors, such as 2to 6 inductive sensors. The inductive sensors can be configured to atleast one of detect and locate a battery with a possible error of atmost 2 mm The use of inductive sensors can be advantageous as theinductive sensing is less affected by foreign matter between theinductive sensors and the battery, such as water or dirt. This can beparticularly advantageous as the mobile robot can operate on differentenvironments and can be polluted by different foreign matter.Furthermore, the inductive sensors are easy to manufacture and energyefficient. They can also be relatively small and thin, allowing foroptimization of used space.

In some embodiments, the localization element can comprise at least onecapacitive sensor, preferably a plurality of capacitive sensors, such as2 to 6 capacitive sensors. The capacitive sensors can be configured toat least one of detect and locate a battery. A combination of bothinductive and capacitive sensors can also be used.

In some embodiments, the localization element can comprise at least onemechanical localization element configured to guide the movement of thebattery handling mechanism toward the battery to be located. That is,the mechanical localization element can stop the battery handlingmechanism in a position where it is aligned with the battery to belocated. The mechanical localization element can also stop the batteryhandling mechanism when the battery is located.

In some embodiments, the localization element can be a combination of atleast two of inductive sensors, capacitive sensors and mechanicallocalization elements. Such a combination can be advantageous, as thelocalization element can comprise the advantages of each of theimplementation methods it comprises.

In some embodiments, the localization element can be configured to atleast one of emit, receive and process electromagnetic waves. That is,the localization element can be configured to emit electromagnetic wavestoward a target, said target preferably being the battery to be detectedand located. Said target can also be the mobile robot positioned in thebattery load/unload position, or part of the mobile robot surroundingthe battery attached to the mobile robot. The target can also be thecharging unit of the battery station, or part of the charging unit ofthe battery station surrounding the battery to be detected and located.The localization element can also be configured to receiveelectromagnetic waves, preferably electromagnetic waves comprising thereflection of the emitted electromagnetic waves by the target. Thelocalization element can also be configured to process electromagneticwaves, preferably the said reflected electromagnetic waves, to detectand locate the target, said target preferably being the battery to belocated. In such embodiments, the localization element can also beconfigured to emit electromagnetic waves, preferably oscillatingelectromagnetic waves, towards the said target and can detect changes inthe emitted electromagnetic field caused by the presence of the saidtarget. Such changes can be processed by a processing unit and theposition of the target can be calculated. The processing can be done bythe localization element comprising a processing unit. The processingcan also be done by a separate processing unit of the battery stationcomprising the localization element.

In some embodiments, the localization element can be configured todistinguish between different materials. For example, the localizationelement can distinguish between materials that have different dielectricconstants. The localization element can preferably distinguish betweenconductive and non-conductive materials, more preferably distinguishbetween the presence of the battery from the presence of anothermaterial within a sensing range of the localization element. The sensingrange can comprise the range where the localization element can beconfigured to operate within a certain degree of sensitivity. This canbe particularly advantageous in embodiments where the battery comprisesnon-conductive material and the surrounding objects comprise conductivematerials or the battery comprises conductive material. In suchembodiments, the material of the battery can be distinguished from thematerial of the surrounding objects. The localization element can alsobe configured to locate the battery based on the distance between thebattery and the localization element. That is, the distance between thebattery and the localization element can be different than the distancebetween the surroundings of the battery and the localization element.The localization element can detect the difference between saiddistances and thus locate the battery. Several distances reflective ofseveral points on the battery can also be detected. Additionally oralternatively one or more points on the battery and/or on thelocalization element can serve as reference points for unambiguouslydetermining the distance. For example, the center of the localizationelement and the closest and furthest points of the battery can serve asreference points. The battery can be localized, within a possible errorof 8 mm, preferably within a possible error of 5 mm, more preferablywithin a possible error of 2 mm

In some embodiments, the localization element can be positioned in thebody of the battery station. This can be advantageous as thelocalization element can have a smaller separation distance with thebattery to be located and can have a better field of view of the batteryto be located thus producing better localization and detection results.

In some embodiments, the localization element can be positioned in thebattery handling mechanism. This can be advantageous, as the separationdistance with the battery to be located can be adjusted, as the batteryhandling mechanism can move. The positioning of the localization elementin the battery handling mechanism can also be advantageous as thesurface where the battery is mounted can be more easily scanned by thesensors, as the battery handling element can change its position.

In some embodiments, the localization element can be configured tolocate the battery with a precision of at least 8 mm, preferably atleast 5 mm, more preferably at least 2 mm This can be advantageous forthe battery station, particularly for the battery handling mechanism, asthe misalignment between the battery and the battery station,particularly battery handling mechanism, can be reduced to at least 8mm, preferably at least 5 mm, more preferably at least 2 mm In suchembodiments, the localization element can be configured to locate themobile robot with a precision of at least 8 mm, preferably at least 5mm, more preferably at least 2 mm That is, the localization element canbe configured to locate a certain point, such as the center of thebattery or another point on the robot with a radius of at least 8 mm,preferably at least 5 mm, more preferably at least 2 mm The position ofthe battery within the mobile robot can be known by the localizationelement. Thus, by locating the mobile robot and knowing the position ofthe battery in the mobile robot, the position of the battery can bederived.

In some embodiments, the localization element can increase the tolerablemisalignment between the battery and the battery handling mechanism.Said tolerable misalignment can be the maximum incorrect positioning ofthe battery relative to the battery station, such that the batterystation can be able to load and unload the battery. The tolerablemisalignment can also be the maximum incorrect positioning of thebattery station relative to the battery, such that the battery stationcan be able to load and unload the battery. In such embodiments, theposition of the battery can be used to allow the battery handlingmechanism to adjust its position with respect to the position of thebattery and thus increase the precision of the alignment between thebattery handling mechanism and the battery. Such an adjustment can makethe battery station more tolerable to misalignments between the batteryhandling mechanism and the battery. Thus, the localization element canbe advantageous, as it facilitates the alignment of the battery handlingmechanism with the battery.

In some embodiments, the battery station can be configured to perform atleast one of store at least one battery, preferably a plurality ofbatteries such as 2 to 10 batteries and charge at least one battery,preferably a plurality of batteries, such as 2 to 10 batteries. That isthe battery station can be configured as a battery storage device, inthat it stores at least one battery. The battery station can also beconfigured as a battery charger device, in that it charges at least onebattery simultaneously or not. This can be advantageous for the batterystation and preferably for the mobile robot as the mobile robot does nothave to wait for the charging of its battery but it can use one of thebatteries stored or charged in the battery station.

In some embodiments, the battery station can further comprise a stationbattery holder. The station battery holder can be configured to hold abattery. In some embodiments, the station battery holder can furthercomprise a fixing element. The fixing element can be configured tosupport a battery attached to the at least one station battery holders.In some embodiments, the fixing element can comprise at least oneelongated part protruding from the body of the station battery holder,such as at least one latch, preferably a plurality of latches. Thelatches can be fixed on the body of the battery thus keeping the batteryfixed to the station battery holder. The station battery holder can thusallow the battery station to store at least one battery, preferably aplurality of batteries. The latches can be advantageous, as they occupya small area and can allow the battery station to store at least onebattery, preferably a plurality of batteries, fixed to it.

In some embodiments, the battery station can be configured to grab abattery from a mobile robot positioned in the battery load/unloadposition. The battery station can also be configured to grab a batteryfrom a charging unit. The battery station can be configured to transporta battery from a mobile robot to a battery charging unit. The batterystation can also be configured to transport a battery from a chargingunit to a mobile robot, said mobile robot positioned in the batteryload/unload position. The battery station can also be configured totransport a battery from a charging unit to another charging unit. Thatis, the battery station can at least one of grab and transport a batterybetween any of at least one battery charging units and a mobile robotpositioned in the battery charging unit. These features of the batterystation can be advantageous as it can allow the battery station to swapa battery between the mobile robot and the battery station or betweencharging units of the battery station. This can be particularlyadvantageous, as it reduces the need for a human during the batteryswapping process.

In some embodiments, the battery handling mechanism of the batterystation can comprise a battery grabber element. The battery grabberelement can be configured to grab a battery positioned within thereaching range of the battery handling mechanism. The battery grabberelement can facilitate the operation of the battery handling mechanism,by allowing the battery handling mechanism to grab the battery.

In some embodiments, the battery grabber element can be configured tolatch and/or unlatch a battery from a station battery holder and/or arobot battery holder during loading and/or unloading of the battery fromthe station battery holder and/or the robot battery holder. That is, thebattery grabber element can be configured to latch a battery to astation battery holder while the battery handling mechanism is loadingthe battery to the station battery holder. The battery grabber elementcan also be configured to unlatch the battery from the station batteryholder while the battery handling mechanism is unloading the batteryfrom the station battery holder. The battery grabber element can beconfigured to latch a battery to a robot battery holder while thebattery handling mechanism is loading the battery to the robot batteryholder. The battery grabber element can also be configured to unlatchthe battery from the robot battery holder while the battery handlingmechanism is unloading the battery from the station battery holder.

In some embodiments, the battery grabber element can be configured tokeep a battery fixed to the battery handling mechanism during thetransportation of the battery between different locations within thereaching range of the battery handling mechanism.

In some embodiments, the battery grabber element further can comprise atleast one flexural joint, preferably a plurality of flexural joints. Theflexural joints can be configured to increase the tolerable misalignmentbetween the battery handling mechanism and the battery. Said tolerablemisalignment can be the maximum incorrect positioning of the batteryrelative to the battery station such that the battery station can beable to load and unload the battery. Said tolerable misalignment can bethe maximum incorrect positioning of the battery station (10) relativeto the battery, such that the battery station is able to load and unloadthe battery. The flexural joint can be particularly advantageous if thesurface where the battery is positioned is misaligned, such as inclined,with respect to the battery grabber element. The flexural joint can alsobe advantageous as it can absorb possible vibrations of the batterywhile the battery is grabbed by the grabber element. The flexural jointcan further be advantageous as it can provide one or more degrees offreedom.

In some embodiments, the battery grabber element further can comprise atleast one kinematic joint, preferably a plurality of kinematic joints.The kinematic joints can be configured to increase the tolerablemisalignment between the battery handling mechanism and the battery.Said tolerable misalignment can be the maximum incorrect positioning ofthe battery relative to the battery station such that the batterystation can be able to load and unload the battery. Said tolerablemisalignment can be the maximum incorrect positioning of the batterystation relative to the battery, such that the battery station is ableto load and unload the battery. The kinematic joint similar can beparticularly advantageous if the surface where the battery is positionedis misaligned, such as inclined, with respect to the battery grabberelement. The kinematic join can also be advantageous as it can absorbpossible vibrations of the battery while the battery is grabbed by thegrabber element.

In some embodiments, the battery grabber element can comprise at leastone of at least one kinematic joint and at least one flexural joint.

In some embodiments, the battery handling mechanism can comprise atleast one lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism can be configured tomove the battery grabber element vertically with respect to ground. Thelifting mechanism can also be configured to move the grabber elementhorizontally with respect to ground. The lifting mechanism can also beconfigured to move the battery in any direction comprising anycombination of horizontal and vertical movement. The lifting mechanismcan be advantageous as during loading and unloading of the battery toand from the robot or the charging units the battery handling mechanismcan move the battery to position it in the targeted destination. Alifting mechanism can also be particularly advantageous when the batteryof the mobile robot is heavy and can be difficult moved by a human. Thelifting mechanism can avoid the need of using other lifting methods ordevices to transport the battery in the targeted destination.

In some embodiments, the lifting mechanism can be configured as ascissor lift mechanism. That is, the lifting mechanism comprise twoelongated structures jointed in an “X” shape, wherein the elongatedstructures can rotate with respect to the intersection point of the twoelongated structures. The scissor lift can be advantageous as thelifting weight is distributed evenly. That is, while moving the battery,the battery's weight is equally distributed between the two elongatedstructures forming the scissor lift.

In some embodiments, the lifting mechanism can be configured as aparallelogram lift mechanism. The lifting mechanism can be advantageousas it consumes a small space and also requires a less force to lift thebattery compared to the scissor lift.

In some embodiments, the battery handling mechanism can further compriseat least one linear actuator, preferably a plurality of linearactuators, such as 2 linear actuators. The linear actuators can beconfigured to move the battery grabber element to any location withinthe reaching range of the battery handling mechanism. The linearactuators can be advantageous as they can produce movement of thebattery handling mechanism by transforming other forms of energy tokinetic energy without the need of a human producing such movements. Thelinear actuators can also be advantageous as their movement can becontrolled in a precise manner to move the battery handling mechanism ina predefined manner.

In some embodiments, the linear actuators can be configured to move thebattery grabber element in any direction within the reaching the rangeof the battery handling mechanism. That is, the linear actuators canallow the battery handling mechanism to position the grabber element inany location within the reaching range of the battery handlingmechanism. Such a location can be the robot battery holder, a chargingunit of the battery station, a station battery holder or any otherlocation within the reaching range of the battery handling mechanism.

In some embodiments, the battery station can further comprise at leastone wheel, preferably a plurality of wheels, such as 2 to 6 wheels. Suchwheels are configured to facilitate the movement of the battery station.That is, the presence of the wheels can make it easier to displace,transport or move the battery station. In some embodiments, the batterystation can be manually moved by an operator. In some embodiments, thebattery station can further comprise a motor. The motor can bepreferably configured to be remotely controlled by an operator. Themotor and the wheels can be particularly advantageous as it can avoidthe need for a human to manually move the battery station. In someembodiments, the battery station can be configured to at least one ofautonomously and semi-autonomously move.

In some embodiments, the battery station can comprise a plurality ofbattery charging units, such as 2 to 10 battery charging units. This canadvantageous, as it increases the battery storage capacity of thebattery station. That is, the battery station can store a plurality ofbatteries, such as 2 to 10 batteries. The plurality of battery chargingunits can also be advantageous as it increases the number of batteriesthat the battery station can simultaneously charge. That is, the batterystation can charge a plurality of batteries, such as 2 to 10 batteries.The plurality of battery charging units can be further advantageous asit allows the battery station to serve multiple mobile robotsconsecutively. That is, the battery station can serve a plurality ofmobile robots such as 2 to 10 mobile robots, one after another, withnone of the robots waiting for the batteries to be charged.

In some embodiments, the battery station can comprise a heating element.The heating element can be configured to produce and transfer energy inthe form of heat to the battery station. The heating element can also beconfigured to produce and transfer energy in the form of heat to themobile robot positioned in the battery load/unload position. The heatingelement can be particularly advantageous in low temperatureenvironments, as it prevents the battery station's temperature loweringbelow a threshold temperature. That is, the heating element can preventthe battery station from freezing. The heating element can also transferheat to the mobile robot and the battery of the mobile robot when themobile robot is positioned in the battery load/unload position. Forexample, in environments where the robot may move through snow or ice,some of the snow or ice can get stuck on the wheels, undercarriage, orother parts of the robot. This can lead to the misalignment of the robotdue to snow or ice being stuck on one wheel, or blocking of the batterycompartment in case it is located at the robot's undercarriage. In suchcases, the heating element can ensure that the snow or ice melts beforeproceeding to swap the battery of the robot.

In some embodiments, the battery station can comprise a localizationelement comprising or configured as a camera. That is, the localizationelement can be configured to capture at least one image. The camera canbe positioned facing the top opening of the battery station. Thus, whena mobile robot is positioned on the battery load/unload position thecamera can capture at least one image of the mobile robot, preferably ofthe battery positioned on the mobile robot (as allowed by the topopening of the battery station). The images captured by the camera canbe processed by a data processing device, such as the controller of thebattery station. The processing of the images can allow the dataprocessing device to infer or determine the presence and preferablyposition of the battery on the images. By considering the setup of thecamera, such as, the position of the camera and the determined positionof the battery on the images captured by the camera, the position of thebattery can be determined, e.g. relative to the camera, any otherreference point, etc. This can be advantageous as it can allow thebattery station to handle or grab the battery of the robot.

In some embodiments, the battery station can comprise a battery presencedetector. The battery presence detector can be mounted on the batterygrabber element. The battery presence element can be configured toprovide a feedback when the battery is grabbed or supported by thebattery grabber element. Thus, whenever the battery grabber elementgrabs a battery of the mobile robot from a charging unit or from amobile robot, a feedback signal can be produced announcing thesuccessful grabbing of the battery by the grabber element. Similarly, afeedback signal can be produced or the missing of a signal can berecognized a s identifying the release of the battery by the grabberelement. For example, when the battery grabber element loads a batteryto a charging unit or to the mobile robot, it can release the battery,thus not supporting it anymore. A feedback signal produced by thebattery presence detector or the missing of the signal can indicate thatthe grabber element is not grabbing a battery. Put simply, a feedbacksignal can be produced by the battery presence detector and the presenceor missing of said feedback signal can be used to infer presence ornon-presence of a battery on the battery grabber element.

The battery presence detector can comprise a switch. Said switch can bepressed under the pressure of the battery, when the battery is supportedby the grabber element, and can provide a feedback signal indicating thepresence of the battery on the battery grabber element. Similarly, theswitch may change state when the pressure of the battery is reduced orremoved—i.e. the battery is not supported by the battery grabberelement. Hence, either state of the switch (pressed/not pressed oron/off) can be detected, thereby inferring whether the battery issupported by the battery grabber element.

The battery presence detector can additionally or alternatively comprisea force sensor. The force sensor can be configured to measure the forcethat can be applied to it. For example, the force sensor can provide afeedback signal indicating the force applied to the force sensor. Insome embodiments, the force sensor can be a force sensitive resistor,that is, a resistor with resistance depending on the force applied toit. Different resistance values or levels can be mapped to differentforce measures or levels. Thus, when the battery is on the batterygrabber element, the force sensor can provide higher measures of theforce applied to it. On the other hand, when the battery is notsupported by the battery grabber element, the measured force values canbe smaller. Hence, using the force sensor, the presence of the batteryon the battery grabber element can be determined.

The battery presence detector may also comprise other types ofelectronic contact/non-contact detectors that can be configured todetect the presence of the battery on the battery grabber element.

In some embodiments, the surface of the battery station, preferably thepart of the surface that can be contacted by the wheels of the mobilerobot, can be configured for avoiding slippage of the wheels of themobile robot. That is, the friction coefficient of the surface of thebattery station or part of the surface of the battery station can beincreased. Increasing the friction coefficient the surface of thebattery station (or at least part of the surface of the battery station)can be advantageous, as it can avoid slippage of the wheels of themobile robot. Hence, a better or more accurate positioning of the mobilerobot on the battery load/unload position can be achieved.

In some embodiments, wherein the surface of the battery station isconfigured for avoiding slippage of the wheels of the mobile robot, thesurface of the battery station may be non-smooth. That is, the surface(or part of the surface) of the battery station may comprise stepsand/or bumps that can make the surface (or part of the surface) of thebattery station uneven. Hence, the friction of the surface (or part ofthe surface) of the battery station comprising the steps and/or bumpscan be increased.

In some embodiments, wherein the surface of the battery station isconfigured for avoiding slippage of the wheels of the mobile robot, thebattery station can comprise a high friction material. The high frictionmaterial can be applied to the surface of the battery station that canbe contacted by the wheels of the mobile robot, such as, on the batteryload/unload position.

In a second embodiment, a system for swapping and/or charging at leastone battery is disclosed. The system comprises at least one batterystation. The system further comprises at least one mobile robot. Themobile robot comprises at least one battery.

The present system can be particularly useful for mobile robotstravelling between different destinations. In a specific example, suchmobile robots can be used for delivering items to delivery recipients.The robots can be loaded with items at a first location and proceed totravel to a delivery location. While traveling, the robots will consumethe energy stored in their batteries. Furthermore, the battery of themobile robot can be malfunctioning, can reach a predefined loss ofcapacity, or can reach the end of life of the battery or itscharge-discharge cycles can reach a predefined number, such as themaximum number of charge-discharge cycles that the battery canexperience. Thus, such robots would require to charge their batteries,or require another battery. It can be desirable that such robots do notwait for their batteries to be charged, but are provided with alreadycharged batteries which are swapped with the discharged battery of therobot, or another battery is provided to the robot and swapped with themalfunctioning battery of the robot. It can also be desirable that thebattery swapping process achieves a high degree of automation,preferably full automation. Therefore, the battery station can be usedto at least one of store and charge at least one battery preferably foruse by the mobile robot. The battery station can also be used to swapthe battery of the mobile robot with another battery, such as a chargedbattery, a new battery, a properly functioning battery.

In some embodiments, the battery station can comprise a batteryload/unload position which can be configured to facilitate the serviceof the mobile robot by the battery station. That is, the batteryload/unload position can be configured such that, when the mobile robotis positioned in the battery load/unload position the at least one ofthe batteries of the mobile robot is aligned with the battery station,within a misalignment range of 0.1-2 cm, such as 1 cm. The misalignmentrange can refer to a radius, that is, it can comprise a circle with aradius of 0.1 to 2 cm. The battery load/unload position can beadvantageous as it can simplify at least one of load and unload of thebattery from the mobile robot by the battery station.

In some embodiments, the mobile robot can be configured to seek servicefrom the at least one battery station when the energy level of the atleast one batteries of the mobile robot is below a certain thresholdlevel. The threshold level can preferably be programmable onto the atleast one robot. That is, while operating the mobile robot can consumethe energy stored in at least one of its batteries. Thus, the energylevel of at least one of its batteries can decrease. When the energylevel of at least one of its batteries is smaller or equal to athreshold level, it can be desirable for the mobile robot to require abattery which is storing an energy bigger than the threshold level.Thus, it can be desirable for the mobile robot to seek service from thebattery station. It can also be advantageous for the threshold level tobe programmable on the mobile robot, so that it can easier adapt tocases when a different type of battery is used, or to other conditionsthat affect the battery consumption by the mobile robot.

In some embodiments, the mobile robot can be configured to seek servicefrom the at least one battery station when the service life of thebattery is over. For example, the mobile robot can seek service from thebattery station when at least one of its batteries can bemalfunctioning, has reached a predefined loss of capacity, which can bea fraction of the original capacity of the battery when the battery isproduced, or when the battery has reached its end of life or has reacheda predefined number of charge-discharge cycles, such as the battery hasreached the maximum number of charge-discharge cycles it can experienceand still work properly. This can be advantageous, as the batterystation can comprise new batteries, or can comprise batteries with thenumber of charge-discharge cycles smaller than the predefined number ofcharge-discharge cycles.

In some embodiments, the mobile robot can be configured to seek servicefrom the at least one battery station when the battery ismalfunctioning. For example, the battery of the mobile robot does notwork properly. That is, the battery of the mobile robot cannot supplythe required energy, power, voltage and/or current. In another example,the battery's contact points can be damaged. Thus, it can beadvantageous for the mobile robot to seek service from the batterystation, as the battery station can comprise batteries that work in aproper way.

In some embodiments, the at least one battery station can comprise atleast one guiding element. In such embodiments, the at least one mobilerobot can further comprise at least one of at least one optical sensorand at least one camera. The optical sensors and the cameras can beconfigured to sense the guiding element of the battery station. Further,in such embodiments, the mobile robot can sense the guiding element toapproach the battery load/unload position of the battery station. Thatis, the guiding element can indicate the battery load/unload position.The mobile robot using at least one of its optical sensors and camerascan sense the guiding element and thus approach the battery load/unloadposition.

In some embodiments, the battery station can be configured to detect abattery of the mobile robot when the mobile robot is positioned in thebattery load/unload position. That is, the battery station can detectthe presence of the battery of the mobile robot, when the mobile robotis positioned in the battery load/unload position. The battery stationcan also be configured to locate a battery of the mobile robot when themobile robot is positioned in the battery load/unload position. That is,the battery station can find the position of a battery of the mobilerobot, when the mobile robot is positioned in the battery load/unloadposition. In such embodiments, the battery station can comprise alocalization element. The localization element can be configured to atleast one of detect and locate a battery of the mobile robot, when themobile robot is positioned in the battery load/unload position. This canbe advantageous as it can improve the alignment between the mobilerobot, particularly the battery of the mobile robot, with the batterystation thus, facilitating the service of the mobile robot by thebattery station. This can also be particularly advantageous if thebattery station can at least one of load and unload the battery of themobile robot from the mobile robot. By at least one of detecting andlocating the battery of the mobile robot, the loading and unloading ofthe battery from the mobile robot can be easier.

In some embodiments, the mobile robot can comprise a robot batteryholder. The robot battery holder can comprise a fixing element. Thefixing element can be configured to hold the battery attached to themobile robot. That is, the at least one of the batteries of the mobilerobot can be positioned in the robot battery holder. The fixing elementsof the robot battery holder can keep the battery fixed to the robotbattery holder and thus to the mobile robot. In such embodiments, thebattery station can comprise a localization element. The localizationelement can be configured to detect a robot battery holder when themobile robot is positioned in the battery load/unload position. That is,the battery station can detect the presence of the robot battery holderwhen the mobile robot is positioned in the battery load/unload position.The battery station can also be configured to locate the position of therobot battery holder when the mobile robot is positioned in the batteryload/unload position. That is, the battery station can locate theposition of the robot battery holder, when the mobile robot ispositioned in the battery load/unload position. This can beadvantageous, as it can improve the alignment between the mobile robot,particularly the robot battery holder of the mobile robot, with thebattery station, thus facilitating the service of the mobile robot bythe battery station. This can also be particularly advantageous if thebattery station is adapted to at least one of load and unload thebattery of the mobile robot to the robot battery holder of the mobilerobot. By at least one of detecting and locating the battery of themobile robot, the loading and unloading of the battery from the mobilerobot can be easier. In some embodiments, the battery station can beconfigured to at least one of load and unload a battery from the mobilerobot, when the mobile robot is positioned in the battery load/unloadposition. In such embodiments, the battery station can preferably beconfigured to unload a discharged battery from the mobile robot. Thebattery station can also preferably be configured to load a charged abattery to the mobile robot.

A discharged battery can refer to any battery with an energy level fromempty to full. A discharged battery can also refer to a defectivebattery, a malfunctioning battery, a battery with a terminated lifecycle, a battery which has reached a predefined number of chargedischarge cycles, such as the maximum number of charge-discharge cyclesthe battery can experience and still work properly. A charged batterycan refer to any battery with an energy level from fully charged to notempty. A charged battery can also refer to a battery that worksproperly. A charged battery can also refer to a battery that hasexperienced a charge-discharge number of cycles smaller than thepredefined number of charge-discharge cycles.

In some embodiments, the mobile robot and the battery station can beconfigured to communicate with each other in order to facilitate atleast one of battery swapping and charging process of the battery of themobile robot by the battery station. In such embodiments, the mobilerobot can communicate to the battery station the battery state of the atleast one of the batteries the mobile robot is comprising. Further, thebattery station can communicate to the mobile robot the battery state ofthe at least one of the batteries the battery station is comprising. Thebattery state can comprise energy level of the battery, number ofcharge-discharge cycles the battery have experienced, original andcurrent capacity of the battery, cell voltages, current rate ofcharge-discharge, temperature of the battery.

In some embodiments, the system can further comprise at least oneserver. In such embodiments, the mobile robot can be configured tocommunicate with the server in order to facilitate the at least one ofbattery swapping and charging process. In such embodiments, the batterystation can be configured to communicate with the server in order tofacilitate the at least one of the battery swapping and chargingprocess. In such embodiments, the server can monitor the operation ofthe mobile robot. The server can also assume control of the operation ofthe robot. The server can also assume control of the operation of thebattery station. The server can comprise data related to at least one ofposition of the robot, position of the battery station, battery state ofthe battery of the robot, battery state of the batteries positioned inthe battery station. The battery state can comprise energy level of thebattery, number of charge-discharge cycles the battery has experienced,original and current capacity of the battery, cell voltages, currentrate of charge-discharge, temperature of the battery. The battery statecan be communicated to the robot when the battery is attached to therobot. The battery state can be communicated to the battery station whenthe battery is attached to the battery station. The battery state can becommunicated from the battery to the server through the mobile robot, orit can be communicated to the server through the battery station.

In some embodiments, the system can comprise a hub. The hub can compriseat least one battery station. The hub can be configured to at least oneof serve, house and maintain the at least one mobile robot. The hub cancomprise a building, a part of a building, a truck, a storage container,or similar structures. In such embodiments, the battery station can beintegrated in the floor of the hub, such that the top surface and theguiding element of the battery station are not covered by the floor.Integrating the battery station in the floor of the hub can beadvantageous, since traveling through inclined surfaces to reach to thebattery load/unload position of the battery station can be avoided forthe mobile robot. This can also be advantageous, as integrating thebattery station on the floor of the hub can preserve space. Leaving thetop surface and the guiding element of the battery station exposed canbe advantageous as the robot can sense the guiding element that canindicate the battery load/unload position to the mobile robot and alsothe battery station can reach the battery of the mobile robot.

In some embodiments, the battery station can be configured to approach amobile robot. The battery station can approach the mobile robotautonomously. The battery station can also approach the mobile robotsemi-autonomously. The battery station can also approach the mobilerobot by being remotely controlled by an operator.

In some embodiments, the battery station can comprise a localizationelement comprising or configured as a camera. That is, the localizationelement can be configured to capture at least one image. The camera canbe positioned facing the top opening of the battery station. Thus, whena mobile robot is positioned on the battery load/unload position thecamera can capture at least one image of the mobile robot, preferably ofthe battery positioned on the mobile robot (as allowed by the topopening of the battery station). The images captured by the camera canbe processed by a data processing device, such as, the controller of thebattery station. The processing of the images can allow the dataprocessing device to infer or determine the presence and preferablyposition of the battery on the images. By considering the setup of thecamera, such as, the position of the camera and the determined positionof the battery on the images captured by the camera, the position of thebattery can be determined, e.g. relative to the camera. This can beadvantageous as it can allow the battery station to handle or grab thebattery of the robot. In addition, the battery of the mobile robot cancomprise a recognizable pattern that can facilitate the detection of thebattery on the images captured by the camera. For example, therecognizable pattern can comprise a distinctive feature, such as adistinctive color, hence, making it easier to be detected by a dataprocessing device processing images of the battery and the recognizablepattern. In a third embodiment, a method for at least one of swappingand charging a mobile robot battery is disclosed. In such embodiments,at least one battery station is provided. Further, at least one mobilerobot is provided. The mobile robot comprises at least one robot batteryholder.

The method comprises the step of positioning the at least one mobilerobot in the battery load/unload position. The load/unload position canbe a position that facilitates the swapping of the battery from themobile robot. The positioning of the at least one mobile robot at thebattery load/unload position can be advantageous, as it can align the atleast one of the batteries of the mobile robot with the battery station.Thus, the swapping process of the battery of the mobile robot by thebattery station can be simplified.

The method further comprises the step of locating the at least onebattery of the at least one mobile robot. That is, the battery stationcan locate at least one of the batteries of the at least one mobilerobot, when the mobile robot is in the battery load/unload position. Thebattery station can find the position of at least one of the batteriesof the mobile robot, when the mobile robot is positioned in the batteryload/unload position. This step can be advantageous, as it canfacilitate the swapping of the battery of the mobile robot. By findingthe location of the battery of the mobile robot, it can be easier forthe battery station to swap the battery of the mobile robot.

The method further comprises the step of unloading a discharged batteryfrom the at least one mobile robot. A discharged battery can be anybattery with an energy level from empty to full. A discharged batterycan also be a defected battery, a malfunctioning battery, a batterywhich life cycles is over, a battery which has reached a predefinednumber of charge discharge cycles, such as the maximum number ofcharge-discharge cycles the battery can experience and still workproperly.

The method further comprises the step of transporting and loading thedischarged battery to an unoccupied charging unit. That is, the batterystation can transport the battery to a charging unit. The charging unitcan be unoccupied, in that it does not contain another battery. Thebattery station can also load the battery to a charging unit. That is,the battery station can approach the battery to the charging unit. Thebattery station can further fix the battery to the charging unit. Thestep of transporting and loading the battery to a charging unit of thebattery station can be advantageous as the battery can be stored in thebattery station. This step can be particularly advantageous if thecharging unit can charge the batteries and thus prepare it for lateruse.

The method further comprises the step of unloading a charged batteryfrom the at least one occupied battery charging unit. That is, thebattery station can detect the presence of a battery, preferably of acharged battery, in one of its charging units. The battery station canfurther unload the battery from the charging unit. A charged battery canbe any battery with an energy level from fully charged to not empty. Acharged battery can also be a battery that works properly. A chargedbattery can also be battery that has experienced a charge-dischargenumber of cycles smaller than the predefined number of charge-dischargecycles.

The method further comprises the step of transporting and loading thecharged battery to the at least one mobile robot. That is, the batterystation can transport the battery toward the mobile robot. The batterystation can further load the battery to the mobile robot. While loading,the battery can electrically connect with the mobile robot. Furthermore,while loading, the battery station can fix the battery to the mobilerobot. This is advantageous, as the robot can continue its operationhaving a charged battery attached to it.

In some embodiments, the battery station can comprise a guiding element.Further, the mobile robot can comprise at least one of at least oneoptical sensor and at least one camera. The optical sensor and thecamera can be configured to sense the guiding element. In suchembodiments, the mobile robot can move to the battery load/unloadposition by sensing the guiding element with the at least one opticalsensor and camera. That is, the guiding element can be configured toindicate the battery load/unload position. The mobile robot can also beconfigured to approach the battery load/unload position by sensing andfollowing the direction indicated by the guiding element of the batterystation.

In some embodiments, the battery station can comprise a localizationelement. The localization element can be configured to at least one ofdetect and locate a localization target. The localization target can bea mobile robot positioned in the battery load unload position. Thelocalization target can also be the battery of the mobile robotpositioned in the battery load/unload position. The localization targetcan also be both the mobile robot positioned in the battery load/unloadposition and the battery of the mobile robot. That is, in suchembodiments, the method can comprise the step of the battery stationdetecting the presence of the localization target. In some specificembodiments, the battery station can achieve this by detecting thepresence of the localization target, such as the presence of the mobilerobot positioned in the battery load/unload position or the at least oneof the batteries of the mobile robot when the mobile robot is positionedin the battery load/unload position. Detecting the mobile robotpositioned in the battery load/unload position or the battery of themobile robot can be advantageous as it can allow the battery station toknow when to initiate the process of serving the mobile robot. That is,the battery station can know when to initiate the process of swappingthe battery of the mobile robot. In such embodiments, the localizationelement can locate the battery of a mobile robot positioned in thebattery load/unload position. The localization element can also locatethe mobile robot positioned in the battery load/unload position. Such alocalization element can be an inductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, amechanical localization element or a combination of different types oflocalization elements. The localization element can be advantageous forthe battery station as it can allow the battery station to detect thepresence of the mobile robot positioned in the battery load/unloadposition. The localization element can also allow the battery to detectthe presence of the battery of the mobile robot. It can further allowthe battery station to find the position of the battery of the mobilerobot or to find the position of the mobile robot.

In some embodiments, the process of locating the localization target cancomprise the step of the localization element scanning the mobile robot,preferably part of the mobile robot that surrounds the battery of themobile robot, by emitting electromagnetic waves, preferably oscillatingelectromagnetic waves. In such embodiments, the localization element canalso move to facilitate the scanning During the scanning process, thelocalization element can continuously measure changes in the emittedelectromagnetic field, such as changes in frequency or amplitude of theelectromagnetic field. Such changes can be caused by an external object,such as the localization target, positioned in the vicinity of thelocalization element. Further, the localization element can beconfigured to detect the changes of the electromagnetic waves caused bythe presence of the localization target within the sensing range. Thatis, the localization element can detect changes in the electromagneticfield caused by the material of the localization target or caused by thedistance between the localization target and the localization element.Further, the localization target can calculate the position of thelocalization target within a possible error of less than 8 mm,preferably less than 5 mm, more preferably less than 2 mm Such acalculation can be processed by a processing unit connected to thelocalization element.

In some embodiments, the process of locating the localization target cancomprise the step of the localization element emitting electromagneticwaves towards the part of the mobile robot comprising the battery to belocated. The localization element can also emit the electromagneticwaves towards the battery to be located or localized. Further, thesurface of the mobile robot comprising the battery to be located canreflect the emitted electromagnetic waves by the localization element.The battery to be located can also reflect the electromagnetic wavesemitted by the localization element. The surface of the mobile robotcomprising the battery and the battery can preferably reflect theelectromagnetic waves in distinctive manners. In one specific example,the reflected electromagnetic waves by the battery can have a higherenergy than the reflected electromagnetic waves reflected by the surfaceof the mobile robot comprising the battery. The process of locating abattery of a mobile robot can further comprise the step of thelocalization element receiving and measuring the reflectedelectromagnetic waves. That is, the localization element can detect andreceive the electromagnetic waves reflected by at least one of thesurface of the mobile robot comprising the battery to be located and thebattery to be located. The localization element can further performmeasurements on the received waves. In one specific example, thelocalization element can measure the amplitude of such receivedelectromagnetic waves. In another example, the localization element canmeasure the frequency of the received electromagnetic waves. Further,the localization element can categorize the reflected electromagneticwaves as being reflected by the battery and as being not reflected bythe battery. That is, the localization element can distinct between theelectromagnetic waves reflected by the battery from the electromagneticwaves that are not reflected by the battery. Further, the localizationelement can calculate the position of the localization target, with apossible error of less than 8 mm, preferably less than 5 mm, morepreferably less than 2 mm That is, the localization element, based onthe distinction of the electromagnetic waves reflected by the batteryand the electromagnetic waves not reflected by the battery can find theposition of the battery.

In some embodiments, the battery station can comprise a battery handlingmechanism. The battery handling mechanism can be configured to operateon a reaching range, said reaching range can comprise at least one ofthe battery of the mobile robot positioned in the battery load/unloadposition and the battery charging unit. That is, the battery handlingmechanism can operate on its reaching range. Such a reaching range cancomprise the at least one of the batteries of the mobile robot, when themobile robot is positioned in the battery load/unload position. Thereaching range can also comprise the at least one of the batterycharging units of the battery station. Such a reaching range can beadvantageous as it can allow the battery handling mechanism, thus thebattery station, to reach at least one of the batteries of the mobilerobot positioned in the battery load unload position. The reaching rangecan also allow the battery handling mechanism to reach the batterycharging units, thus the batteries that can be in the battery chargingunits. The battery station can further comprise a battery grabberelement. The battery grabber element can be configured to grab a batterypositioned within the reaching range of the battery handling mechanism.The battery grabber element can facilitate the operation of the batteryhandling mechanism, by allowing the battery handling mechanism to grabthe battery.

In such embodiments, the mobile robot can further comprise a robotbattery holder. The robot battery holder can comprise a fixing element.The fixing element can be configured to hold the battery attached to themobile robot. That is, the fixing element can fix the battery to therobot battery holder and thus to the mobile robot. The grabber elementcan be configured to unlatch the battery from the fixing element of therobot battery holder. Furthermore, in such embodiments, the batterycharging unit can comprise a station battery holder. The station batteryholder can comprise a fixing element. The fixing element can beconfigured to keep the battery attached to the station battery holder,thus to the battery station. That is, the fixing element can fix thebattery to the station battery holder and thus to the battery station.The grabber element can be configured to unlatch the battery from thefixing element of the at least one station battery holder.

In some embodiments, the battery handling mechanism can unload thebattery from the mobile robot. The process of unloading the battery fromthe mobile robot can comprise the step of the battery handling mechanismpositioning the battery grabber element in the robot battery holder.That is, the battery handling mechanism can approach the battery grabberelement to the robot battery holder such that the battery grabberelement can grab the battery positioned in the robot battery holder.Further, the battery grabber element can grab the battery positioned inthe robot battery holder. That is, the battery grabber element can fixthe battery positioned in the robot battery holder to its body and thusto the battery handler mechanism. Further, the battery grabber elementcan unlatch the battery from the fixing element of the robot batteryholder. That is, the battery grabber element can move the battery awayfrom the fixing element such that the battery can be removed from therobot battery holder. Thus, if the battery handling mechanism moves thebattery grabber element, the battery will move with it. Further, thebattery handling mechanism can move the battery grabber element, holdingthe battery away from the robot battery holder. That is, the batteryhandling mechanism can unload the battery from the mobile robot byremoving the battery from the robot battery holder.

In some embodiments, the battery handling mechanism can transport thegrabbed battery to an unoccupied charging unit. An unoccupied chargingunit can be a charging unit of the battery station that does not containa battery. Thus, an unoccupied charging unit can be a charging unit thatcan neither be storing nor charging a battery. In such embodiments, atleast one controller unit can be provided. The controller unit can beconfigured to facilitate the operations of the battery station. The atleast one controller unit can check the battery charging units of thebattery stations whether they are occupied by a battery and whether theyare not occupied by a battery. That is, the controller unit can allowthe battery station to know which of its battery charging unit arestoring or charging a battery and which are not. The at least one of thecontrollers of the battery station can find an unoccupied batterycharging unit. The at least one controller of the battery station canprovide the coordinates of the unoccupied charging unit to the batteryhandling mechanism. The battery handling mechanism can position thegrabber element holding a battery in the unoccupied charging unit.

In some embodiments, the battery grabber element can load the grabbedbattery to the said unoccupied charging unit. That is the batterygrabber element can position the battery in the charging unit and canpreferably fix it in the charging unit. In such embodiments, the batteryhandling mechanism can position the battery grabber element holding abattery in the station battery holder of the unoccupied charging unit.That is the battery handling mechanism can approach the battery grabberelement to the station battery holder of the battery charging unit, sothat the battery grabber element can load the battery to station batteryholder. Further, the battery grabber element can latch the battery inthe fixing element of the station battery holder of the unoccupiedcharging unit. That is, the battery grabber element can fix the batteryin the station battery holder and thus in the battery station. This isadvantageous, as the battery station can store the batteries in thestation battery holders. The battery grabber element can release thebattery. That is, the battery is not fixed to the battery grabberelement and the movements of the battery grabber element cannot affectthe battery.

In some embodiments, the battery handling mechanism can transport thegrabbed battery to a battery charging unit being occupied by a chargedbattery. An occupied charging unit can be a charging unit of the batterystation that contains a battery. Thus, an occupied charging unit can bea charging unit that can be storing or charging a battery. In suchembodiments, at least one controller unit can be provided. Thecontroller unit can be configured to facilitate the operations of thebattery station. The at least one controller unit can check the batterycharging units of the battery stations whether they are occupied by abattery and whether they are not occupied by a battery. That is, thecontroller unit can allow the battery station to know which of itsbattery charging unit are storing or charging a battery and which arenot. The at least one of the controllers of the battery station can finda battery charging unit occupied by a charged battery. The at least onecontroller of the battery station can provide the coordinates of thebattery charging unit occupied by a charged battery to the batteryhandling mechanism. The battery handling mechanism can position thegrabber element holding a battery in the battery charging unit occupiedby a charged battery.

In some embodiments, the battery handling mechanism can unload thecharged battery from the battery charging unit. The process of unloadingthe battery from the mobile robot can comprise the step of the batteryhandling mechanism positioning the battery grabber element in thestation battery holder of the charging unit occupied by a battery. Thatis, the battery handling mechanism can approach the battery grabberelement to the station battery holder such that the battery grabberelement can grab the battery positioned in the station battery holder.Further, the battery grabber element can grab the battery positioned inthe station battery holder. That is the battery grabber element can fixthe battery positioned in the station battery holder to its body andthus to the battery handler mechanism. Further, the battery grabberelement can unlatch the battery from the fixing element of the stationbattery holder. That is, the battery grabber element can move thebattery away from the fixing element such that the battery can beremoved from the station battery holder. Thus, if the battery handlingmechanism moves the battery grabber element the battery will move withit. Further, the battery handling mechanism can move the battery grabberelement, holding the battery away from the station battery holder. Thatis, the battery handling mechanism can unload the battery from thestation battery holder by removing the battery from the station batteryholder.

In some embodiments, the battery handling mechanism can transport thebattery grabber element holding a charged battery to the robot batteryholder. In such embodiments, at least one controller unit can beprovided to facilitate the operations of the battery station. The atleast one controller unit of the battery station can provide theposition of the robot battery holder to the battery handling mechanism.In some embodiments, this can be accomplished by providing to thebattery handling mechanism the same coordinates that were obtained whenlocating the discharged battery of the mobile robot. In someembodiments, the localization element can locate the robot batteryholder and can provide the coordinates of the robot battery holder tothe battery handling mechanism. Further, the battery handling mechanismcan position the battery grabber element holding a charged battery tothe robot battery holder. That is, the battery handling mechanismapproaches the battery grabber element to the robot battery holder, suchthat the battery grabber element can load the battery to the robotbattery holder.

In some embodiments, the battery grabber element can load the chargedbattery to the at least one robot battery holder. That is the batterygrabber element can position the battery in the robot battery holder andcan preferably fix the battery in the robot battery holder. In suchembodiments, the battery handling mechanism can position the batterygrabber element holding a battery in the robot battery holder. That isthe battery handling mechanism can approach the battery grabber elementto the robot battery holder of the mobile robot, so that the batterygrabber element can load the battery to the robot battery holder.Further, the battery grabber element can latch the battery in the fixingelement of the robot battery holder. That is, the battery grabberelement can fix the battery in the robot battery holder and thus in themobile station. The battery grabber element can further release thebattery. That is, the battery is not fixed to the battery grabberelement and the movements of the battery grabber element cannot affectthe battery.

In some embodiments, the method further can comprise the battery stationinitiating the charging process of the discharged batteries in thecharging unit. That is, the battery station can comprise at least onecharging unit. The charging unit can be configured to charge at leastone battery. This can be advantageous as it can allow the batterystation to charge at least one battery. This can also be advantageousparticularly for the mobile robot, as it can be provided with chargedbatteries by the battery station.

In some embodiments, further a server is provided. In such embodiments,the server can communicate with the at least one mobile robot tofacilitate the battery swapping and/or charging process. Further, theserver can communicate with the at least one battery station tofacilitate the battery swapping and/or charging process. The server canbe advantageous for the method as it can coordinate the operations ofthe mobile robot and battery station. Furthermore, the server can alsoassume control of the operation of the robot. The server can also assumecontrol of the operation of the battery station. The server can comprisedata related to at least one of position of the robot, position of thebattery station, battery level of the battery of the robot, batterylevel of the batteries positioned in the battery station.

In some embodiments, the method can further comprise capturing at leastone image of the battery of the mobile robot. For example, the batterystation can comprise a localization element that can comprise or beconfigured as a camera, which localization element can be configured todetect the presence and position of a battery of a mobile robot. Themethod can further comprise processing the at least one image capturedby the camera of the battery station to detect the presence and positionof a battery on the at least one captured and processed image. This canbe advantageous, as the position of the battery of the robot can beinferred e.g. relative to the camera Hence, it can be easier for thebattery station to grab or handle the battery during its operation.

In some embodiments, the method can further comprise facilitating thepositioning of the mobile robot on the battery load/unload position byproviding a high friction material on the surface of the battery stationor high friction surface contacted by the mobile robot. The batterystation can comprise a high friction material. The high frictionmaterial can be applied to the surface of the battery station that canbe contacted by the wheels of the mobile robot, such as, on the batteryload/unload position. The high friction material can be advantageous asit can avoid slippage of the wheels of the mobile robot. Hence, a betteror more accurate positioning of the mobile robot on the batteryload/unload position can be achieved.

In some embodiments, the method can further comprise providing feedbackwhen the battery station loads and/or unloads the battery from themobile robot. The battery station can comprise a battery presencedetector. The battery presence detector can be mounted on the batterygrabber element. The battery presence element can be configured toprovide a feedback when the battery is grabbed or supported by thebattery grabber element. Thus, whenever the battery grabber elementgrabs a battery of the mobile robot from a charging unit or from amobile robot, a feedback signal can be produced announcing thesuccessful grabbing of the battery by the grabber element. Similarly, afeedback signal can be produced or the missing of a signal can berecognized as announcing the release of the battery by the grabberelement. For example, when the battery grabber element loads a batteryto a charging unit or to the mobile robot, it can release the battery,and thus not supporting it anymore. A feedback signal produced by thebattery presence detector or the missing of the signal can indicate thatthe grabber element is not grabbing a battery. Put simply, a feedbacksignal can be produced by the battery presence detector and the presenceor missing of said feedback signal can be used to infer presence ornon-presence of a battery on the battery grabber element.

Below further numbered embodiments of the invention will be discussed.

Device Embodiments

-   -   D1. A battery station (10), preferably for use by at least one        mobile robot (20), comprising:        -   a) a battery charging unit (132) configured to perform at            least one of:            -   i. holding at least one battery (400),            -   ii.charging at least one battery (400);        -   b) a battery load/unload position (115) configured to            facilitate loading and unloading of a battery (400) to and            from a mobile robot (20);        -   c) a battery handling mechanism (300) configured to operate            on a reaching range, said reaching range comprising at least            one of the following:            -   i.the battery (400) of the mobile robot (20) positioned                in the battery load/unload position (115),            -   ii.the battery charging unit (132);        -   d) a localization element (343) configured to at least one            of detect and locate at least one of the following:            -   i.a battery (400) of a mobile robot (20), wherein the                mobile robot (20) is positioned in the battery                load/unload position (115),            -   ii.a battery (400) positioned in a battery charging unit                (132).

Dimensions

1D2. A battery station (10) in accordance with the preceding embodiment,wherein the battery station (10) comprises a width in the range of 30 to100 cm, preferably 50 to 70 cm, a height in the range of 15 to 35 cm,preferably 20 to 25 cm and a length in the range of 50 to 150 cm,preferably 80 to 110 cm.

Guiding Element (105)

D3. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the precedingembodiments, wherein the battery station (10) is configured tofacilitate the positioning of the mobile robot (20) in the batteryload/unload position (115).

D4. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the precedingembodiments, wherein the battery station (10) further comprises at leastone guiding element (105) configured to facilitate the positioning ofthe mobile robot (20) in the battery load/unload position (115).

D5. A battery station (10) in accordance with the preceding embodiment,wherein the guiding element (105) comprises at least one marker (105),preferably a plurality of optical markers (105).

D6. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the precedingembodiments and with the features of embodiment D4, wherein the guidingelement (105) is configured as a straight line (105), preferably as aplurality of straight lines (105), such as 2 to 10 straight lines,indicating the battery load/unload position (115).

D7. A battery station (10) in accordance with the preceding embodiment,wherein the plurality of straight lines (105) is configured as a batterystation (10) identifier, wherein at least one of the following is uniqueto one battery station (10) or to a specific group of battery stations(10):

-   -   a) the width of any of the plurality of straight lines (105),    -   b) the length of any of the plurality of straight lines (105),    -   c) the distance between any of the plurality of straight lines        (105),    -   d) the color of any of the plurality of straight lines (105),    -   e) the number of the straight lines (105).

Localization Element (343)

-   -   D8. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the localization element (343)        comprises at least one sensor device (510), wherein the sensor        device (510) comprises at least one of        -   a) at least one inductive sensor (510), preferably a            plurality of inductive sensors (510), such as 2 to 6            inductive sensors (510);        -   b) at least one capacitive sensor (510), preferably a            plurality of capacitive sensors (510), such as 2 to 6            capacitive sensors (510).    -   D9. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the localization element (343)        comprises at least one mechanical localization element (343)        configured to guide the movement of the battery handling        mechanism (300) toward the battery (400).    -   D10. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the localization element (343) is        configured to at least one of emit, receive and process        electromagnetic waves.    -   D11. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the localization element (343) is        configured to locate the battery (400) based on at least one of:        -   a) distinguishing between different materials, preferably            distinguishing between conductive and non-conductive            materials, more preferably distinguishing the presence of            the battery (400) from the presence of another material            within a sensing range (515) of the localization element            (343),        -   b) distance between the battery (400) and the localization            element (343).    -   D12. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the localization element (343) is        positioned on the body of the battery station (10).    -   D13. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the localization element (343) is        positioned on the battery handling mechanism (300).    -   D14. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the localization element (343) is        configured to locate the battery (400) with a precision of at        least 8 mm, preferably at least 5 mm, more preferably at least 2        mm    -   D15. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the localization element (343)        increases the tolerable misalignment between the battery (400)        and the battery handling mechanism (300), said tolerable        misalignment comprising at least one of the following:        -   a) maximum incorrect positioning of the battery (400)            relative to the battery station (10), such that the battery            station (10) is able to load and unload the battery (400),        -   b) maximum incorrect positioning of the battery station (10)            relative to the battery (400), such that the battery station            (10) is able to load and unload the battery (400).

Station Battery Holder (600)

-   -   D16. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the battery station (10) is        configured to perform at least one of:        -   a) storing the at least one battery (400), preferably a            plurality of batteries (400), such as 2 to 10 batteries            (400),        -   b) charging the at least one battery (400), preferably a            plurality of batteries (400), such as 2 to 10 batteries            (400).    -   D17. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the battery charging unit (132)        comprises a station battery holder (600) that is configured to        be occupied by a battery (400).    -   D18. A battery station (10) in accordance with the preceding        embodiment, wherein the station battery holder (600) further        comprises a fixing element (610) configured to support the        battery (400) attached to the at least one station battery        holder (600).    -   D19. A battery station (10) in accordance with the preceding        embodiment, wherein the fixing element (610) comprises at least        one elongated part (610) protruding from the body of the station        battery holder (600), such as at least one latch (610),        preferably a plurality of latches (610).    -   D20. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the battery charging unit (132)        comprises a fixing element (610) configured to support the        battery (400) attached to the at least one battery charging unit        (132).    -   D21. A battery station (10) in accordance with the preceding        embodiment, wherein the fixing element (610) comprises at least        one elongated part (610) protruding from the body of the battery        charging unit (132), such as at least one latch (610),        preferably a plurality of latches (610).

Battery Handling Mechanism (300)

-   -   D22. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the battery station (10) is        configured to perform at least one of the following:        -   a) grab the battery (400) from at least one of            -   i.the mobile robot (20) positioned in the battery                load/unload position (115) and            -   ii.the charging unit (132);        -   b) transport the battery (400) from the mobile robot (20) to            the battery charging unit (132) and/or from the charging            unit (132) to the mobile robot (20), said mobile robot (20)            positioned in the battery load/unload position (115), and/or            from the charging unit (132) to another charging unit (132).    -   D23. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the battery handling mechanism        (300) comprises a battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B)        configured to grab the battery (400) positioned within the        reaching range of the battery handling mechanism (300).    -   D24. A battery station (10) in accordance with the preceding        embodiment, wherein the battery grabber element (350, 350A,        350B) comprises at least one grabbing gripper (355), preferably        2 to 4 grabbing grippers (355).    -   D25. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments and with features of embodiment D23,        wherein the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) is        configured to latch and/or unlatch a battery (400) from a        station battery holder (600) and/or a robot battery holder (602)        during loading and/or unloading of the battery (400) from the        station battery holder (600) and/or the robot battery holder        (602).    -   D26. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments and with features of embodiment D23,        wherein the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) is        configured to keep a battery (400) fixed to the battery handling        mechanism (300) during the transportation of the battery (400)        between different locations within the reaching range of the        battery handling mechanism (300).    -   D27. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments and with features of embodiment D23,        wherein the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) further        comprises at least one flexural joint (360), preferably a        plurality of flexural joints (360), configured to increase the        tolerable misalignment between the battery handling mechanism        (300) and the battery (400), said tolerable misalignment        comprising at least one of the following:        -   a) maximum incorrect positioning of the battery (400)            relative to the battery station (10), such that the battery            station (10) is able to load and unload the battery (400),        -   b) maximum incorrect positioning of the battery station (10)            relative to the battery (400), such that the battery station            (10) is able to load and unload the battery (400).    -   D28. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments and with the features of embodiment D23,        wherein the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) further        comprises at least one kinematic joint, preferably a plurality        of kinematic joints, configured to increase the tolerable        misalignment between the battery handling mechanism (300) and        the battery (400) said tolerable misalignment comprising at        least one of the following:        -   a) maximum incorrect positioning of the battery (400)            relative to the battery station (10), such that the battery            station (10) is able to load and unload the battery (400),        -   b) maximum incorrect positioning of the battery station (10)            relative to the battery (400), such that the battery station            (10) is able to load and unload the battery (400).    -   D29. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments and with the features of embodiment D23,        wherein the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) further        comprises at least one kinematic joint and at least one flexural        joint (360), configured to increase the tolerable misalignment        between the battery handling mechanism (300) and the battery        (400) said tolerable misalignment comprising at least one of the        following:        -   a) maximum incorrect positioning of the battery (400)            relative to the battery station (10), such that the battery            station (10) is able to load and unload the battery (400),        -   b) maximum incorrect positioning of the battery station (10)            relative to the battery (400), such that the battery station            (10) is able to load and unload the battery (400).    -   D30. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments and with the features of embodiment D23,        wherein the battery handling mechanism (300) further comprises        at least one lifting mechanism (325), configured to move the        battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) vertically and/or        horizontally with respect to ground.

D31. A battery station (10) in accordance with the preceding embodiment,wherein the lifting mechanism (325) is configured as a scissor liftmechanism (325).

-   -   D32. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments and with the features of embodiment D30,        wherein the lifting mechanism (325) is configured as a        parallelogram lift mechanism (325A).    -   D33. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments and with the features of embodiment D23,        wherein the battery handling mechanism (300) further comprises        at least one actuator (327A), preferably a plurality of linear        actuators (327A, 307, 327), such as 2 linear actuators (327A,        307) configured to move the battery grabber element (350, 350A,        350B) to any location within the reaching range of the battery        handling mechanism (300).    -   D34. A battery station (10) in accordance with the preceding        embodiment, wherein the linear actuators (327A, 307, 327) are        configured to move the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B)        in any direction within the reaching range of the battery        handling mechanism (300).

Mobility of Battery Station

-   -   D35. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the battery station (10) further        comprises at least one wheel, preferably a plurality of wheels,        such as 2 to 6 wheels, configured to facilitate the movement of        battery station (10).    -   D36. A battery station (10) in accordance with the preceding        embodiment wherein the battery station (10) is configured to be        manually moved by an operator.    -   D37. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments and with the features of embodiment D35,        wherein the battery station (10), further comprises a motor,        wherein the motor is preferably configured to be remotely        controlled by an operator.    -   D38. A battery station (10) in accordance with the preceding        embodiment, wherein the battery station (10) is configured to        autonomously and/or semi-autonomously move.

Including Plurality of Elements

-   -   D39. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the battery station (10)        comprises a plurality of battery charging units (132), such as 2        to 10 battery charging units (132), in accordance with any of        the embodiments D16 to D21.    -   D40. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the battery swapping station (10)        comprises a plurality of battery handling mechanisms (300) in        accordance with any of the embodiments D22 to D34.

Heating Element

-   -   D41. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the battery station (10)        comprises a heating element configured to produce and transfer        heat to at least one of the battery station (10) and mobile        robot (20).

Localization Element as a Camera

-   -   D42. A battery station (10) in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments, wherein the localization element (343)        comprises a camera (343).    -   D43. A battery station (10) according to the preceding        embodiment, wherein the camera (343) is configured to capture at        least one image of the battery (400) of the mobile robot (20),        wherein the mobile robot (20) is positioned in the battery        load/unload position (115).    -   D44. A battery station (10) according to the preceding        embodiment, wherein the at least one image captured by the        camera (343) is provided to a data processing device, such as to        a controller of the battery station (10), said data processing        device configured to process the at least one image captured by        the camera (343) for the purpose of detecting at least one of        the presence and position of the battery (400) on the at least        one image.

Battery Presence Detector

-   -   D45. A battery station (10) according to any of the preceding        embodiments and with the features of embodiment D22, wherein the        battery station (10) comprises a battery presence detector (359)        configured to detect whether or not the battery handling        mechanism (300) grabs the battery (400).    -   D46. A battery station (10) according to the preceding        embodiment, wherein the battery presence detector (359)        comprises a switch cover (3594) flexible attached to a battery        presence detector frame (3593) by at least one flexible        attachment (3592), preferably four flexible attachments (3592).    -   D47. A battery station (10) according to the preceding        embodiment, wherein the switch cover (3594) covers a switch and        can assume at least two positions, such that on at least one of        the positions the switch cover (3594) contacts and preferably        presses the switch to activate it and/or on at least one other        position the switch cover (3594) does not contact the switch,        thus deactivating it.    -   D48. A battery station (10) according to the preceding        embodiments, wherein the said switch when activated allows the        flow of an electrical signal through it.    -   D49. A battery station (10) according to any of the preceding        four embodiments and with the features of embodiment D23,        wherein the battery presence detector (359) is mounted or        attached to the battery grabber element (350).    -   D50. A battery station (10) according to any of the preceding        five embodiments, wherein the battery presence detector        comprises a force sensor, such as a force sensitive resistor.

High Friction Material

-   -   D51. A battery station (10) according to any of the preceding        embodiments, wherein the surface of the battery station (10),        preferably the surface of the battery station (10) the mobile        robot (20) can drive on, such as the surface of the battery        station (10) on the battery load/unload position (115) comprise        a high friction material and/or high friction surface (1150).    -   D52. A battery station (10) according to the preceding        embodiment, wherein the high friction material (1150) is        configured to increase the friction coefficient of the contact        surface between the mobile robot (20), preferably wheels of the        mobile robot (20) and the battery station (10).

System Embodiments

-   -   S1. A system for swapping and/or charging at least one battery        (400) comprising:        -   a) at least one battery station (10) in accordance with any            of the embodiments D1 to D52;        -   b) at least one mobile robot (20) comprising at least one            battery (400).    -   S2. A system in accordance with the preceding embodiment,        wherein the battery station (10) comprises a battery load/unload        position (115) configured to facilitate the service of the        mobile robot (20) by the battery station (10).    -   S3. A system in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments        S1 to S2, wherein the mobile robot (20) is configured to seek        service from the at least one battery station (10) when the        energy level of the at least one batteries (400) of the robot        (20) is below a threshold level, said threshold level being        preferably programmable onto the at least one robot (20).    -   S4. A system in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments        S1 to S3, wherein the mobile robot (20) is configured to seek        service from the at least one battery station (10) when the        service life of the battery (400) is over, such as it has        reached a predefined number of charge—discharge cycles.    -   S5. A system in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments        S1 to S4, wherein the mobile robot (20) is configured to seek        service from the at least one battery station (10) when the        battery (400) is malfunctioning, such as it does not work        properly.

Optical Sensor+Guiding Element

-   -   S6. A system in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments        S1 to S5, wherein        -   a) the at least one battery station (10) comprises at least            one guiding element (105) in accordance with any of the            embodiments D4 to D7, and        -   b) the at least one mobile robot (20) further comprises at            least one of optical sensor (812) and camera (812),            configured to sense the guiding element (105) of the battery            station (10).    -   S7. A system in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments        S1 to S6 and with the features of embodiment S2, and with the        features of embodiment S6, wherein the mobile robot (20) senses        the guiding element (105) to approach the battery load/unload        position (115).

Localization element+Battery+Robot Battery Holder

-   -   S8. A system in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments        S1 to S7 and with the features of embodiment S2, wherein the        battery station (10) is configured to perform at least one of        the following:        -   a) detect a battery (400) of the mobile robot (20), when the            mobile robot (20) is positioned at the battery load/unload            position (115),        -   b) locate a battery (400) of the mobile robot (20), when the            mobile robot (20) is positioned at the battery load/unload            position (115).    -   S9. A system in accordance with the preceding embodiment,        wherein the battery station (10) comprises a localization        element (343) in accordance with any of the embodiments D8 to        D15 and wherein the localization element (343) is configured to        detect and/or locate a battery (400) of the mobile robot (20),        when the mobile robot (20) is positioned at the battery        load/unload position (115).    -   S10. A system in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments S1 to S9, wherein the mobile robot (20) comprises a        robot battery holder (602) comprising a fixing element (610)        configured to hold the battery (400) attached to the mobile        robot (20)    -   S11. A system in accordance with the preceding embodiment and        with the features of embodiment S2, wherein the battery station        (10) comprises a localization element (343) in accordance with        any of the embodiments D8 to D15 and wherein the localization        element (343) is configured to detect and/or locate a robot        battery holder (602) of a mobile robot (20), when the mobile        robot (20) is positioned in the battery load/unload position        (115).

Operations of Battery Swapping Station on Mobile Robot

-   -   S12. A system in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments S1 to S11 and with the features of embodiment S2,        wherein the battery station (10) is configured to load and/or        unload a battery (400) from the mobile robot (20), when the        mobile robot (20) is positioned at the battery load/unload        position (115), preferably unload a discharged battery from the        mobile robot (20) and/or load a charged battery (400) to the        mobile robot (20).    -   S13. A system in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments S1 to S12, and with the features of embodiment S2,        wherein the battery station is configured to load, unload and/or        charge a battery (400) of a mobile robot (20) when the mobile        robot (20) is positioned in at the battery load/unload position        (115), preferably unload a discharged battery from the mobile        robot (20) and/or load a charged battery (400) to the mobile        robot (20) and/or charge the said unloaded discharged battery        (400) from the mobile robot (20).

System with/without a Server

-   -   S14. A system in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments S1 to S13, wherein the mobile robot (20) and the        battery station (10) are configured to communicate with each        other in order to facilitate the battery swapping and/or        charging process of the battery (400) of the mobile robot (20)        by the battery station (10).    -   S15. A system in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments Si to S14, wherein the system further comprises at        least one server (90).    -   S16. A system in accordance with the preceding embodiment,        wherein the mobile robot (20) is configured to communicate with        the server (90) in order to facilitate the battery swapping        and/or charging process of the battery (400) of the mobile robot        (20) by the battery station (10).    -   S17. A system in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments Si to S16 and with the features of embodiment S15,        wherein the battery station (10) is configured to communicate        with the server (90) in order to facilitate the battery swapping        and/or charging process of the battery (400) of the mobile robot        (20) by the battery station (10).

System with a Hub

-   -   S18. A system in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments S1 to S17, wherein the system further comprises a        hub (80) and wherein the hub (80) comprises at least one battery        station (10) and the hub (80) is configured to serve, house,        and/or maintain the at least one mobile robot (20).    -   S19. A system in accordance with the preceding embodiment,        wherein the at least one battery station (10) is integrated in        the floor (801) of said hub (80), such that the top surface        and/or the guiding element (105) of the battery station (10) are        not covered by the floor (801).

Mobile Robot

-   -   S20. A system in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments S1 to S19, wherein the mobile robot (20) is        autonomous and/or semi-autonomous.    -   S21. A system in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments S1 to S20, wherein the mobile robot (20) is used for        delivery purposes.    -   S22. A system in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments S1 to S21, wherein the mobile robot (20) further        comprises a space for holding at least one delivery.    -   S23. A system in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments S1 to S22, wherein the robot (20) further comprises        a wheel mechanism comprising at least four wheels that are        configured for land-based motion.    -   S24. A system in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments S1 to S23, wherein the mobile robot (20) is        configured to travel with a speed of no more than 10 km/h, or no        more than 8 km/h, or no more than 6 km/h, preferably between 3        and 6 km/h, more preferably between 4 and 5 km/h.    -   S25. A system in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments S1 to S24, wherein the mobile robot (20) comprises        at least one optical sensor.

S26. A system in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments S1 toS25, wherein the mobile robot (20) comprises at least one camera.

Localization Element as a Camera

-   -   S27. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments S1        to S26, wherein the battery station (10) comprises a        localization element (343) comprising a camera (343) according        to any of the embodiments D42 to D44.    -   S28. A system according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the        camera (343) is configured to capture at least one image of the        at least one battery (400) of the mobile robot (20).    -   S29. A system according to any of the preceding two embodiments,        wherein the at least one battery (400) of the mobile robot (20)        comprises a recognizable pattern (3436) comprising a distinctive        feature, such as a distinctive color, that can be detected by        the camera (343).

Method Embodiments

-   -   M1. A method for swapping and/or charging a mobile robot battery        (400) comprising the steps of:        -   a) providing at least one battery station (10) in accordance            with any of the embodiments D1 to D51, and at least one            mobile robot (20) comprising at least one battery (400) and            at least one robot battery holder (602);        -   b) positioning the at least one robot (20) in the battery            load/unload position (115);        -   c) locating the at least one battery (400) of the at least            one mobile robot (20);        -   d) unloading a discharged battery (400) from the at least            one mobile robot (20);        -   e) transporting and loading the discharged battery (400) to            an unoccupied charging unit (132);        -   f) unloading a charged battery (400) from the at least one            occupied battery charging unit (132); and        -   g) transporting and loading the charged battery (400) to the            at least one mobile robot (20).

Guiding to the Battery Load/Unload Position (115)

-   -   M2. A method in accordance with the preceding embodiment,        wherein the battery station (10) comprises a guiding element        (105) in accordance with any of the embodiments D4 to D7, and        wherein the mobile robot (20) comprise at least one optical        sensor (812), and/or at least one camera (812), configured to        sense the guiding element (105).    -   M3. A method in accordance with the preceding embodiment,        wherein the mobile robot (20) moves to the battery load/unload        position (115) by sensing the guiding element (105) with the at        least one optical sensor (812) and/or camera (812).

Locating the Battery (400)

-   -   M4. A method in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments        M1 to M3, wherein the battery station (10) comprises a        localization element (343), in accordance with any of the        preceding embodiments D8 to D15, configured to at least one of        detect and locate a localization target (700), the localization        target (700) comprising at least one of:        -   a) the mobile robot (20) positioned in the battery            load/unload position (115),        -   b) the battery (400) of the mobile robot (20) positioned in            the battery load/unload position (115).    -   M5. A method in accordance with the preceding embodiment,        wherein the process of locating the localization target (700)        comprises the steps of:        -   a) the localization element (343) scanning the mobile robot            (20), preferably part of the mobile robot (20) surrounding            the battery (400) attached to the mobile robot (20) by            emitting electromagnetic waves, preferably oscillating            electromagnetic waves,        -   b) the localization element (343) continuously measuring            changes in the emitted electromagnetic field,        -   c) the localization element (343) detecting the changes of            the emitted electromagnetic field caused by the presence of            the localization target (700) within the sensing range            (515), and        -   d) the localization element (343) calculating the position            of the localization target (700) with a possible error of            less than 8 mm, preferably less than 5 mm, more preferably            less than 2 mm    -   M6. A method in accordance with embodiment M4, wherein the        process of locating the localization target (700) comprises the        steps of:        -   a) the localization element (343) emitting electromagnetic            waves towards the surface of the mobile robot (20)            comprising the battery (400) and towards the battery (400),        -   b) the surface of the mobile robot comprising the battery            (400) and the battery (400) reflecting the emitted            electromagnetic waves by the localization element (343),        -   c) the localization element (343) receiving and measuring            the reflected electromagnetic waves,        -   d) the localization element (343) categorizing the reflected            electromagnetic waves as being reflected by the battery            (400) and as being not reflected by the battery (400),        -   e) the localization element (343) calculating the position            of the localization target (700) with a possible error less            than 8 mm, preferably less than 5 mm, more preferably less            than 2 mm

Swapping the Battery (400)

-   -   M7. A method in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments        M1 to M6, wherein the battery station (10) further comprises a        battery handling mechanism (300) and a battery grabber element        (350, 350A, 350B) in accordance with any of the embodiments D23        to D34.    -   M8. A method in accordance with the preceding embodiment,        wherein the mobile robot (20) further comprises a robot battery        holder (602) comprising a fixing element (610) configured to        hold the battery (400) attached to the mobile robot (20) and        wherein the grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) is configured to        unlatch the battery (400) from the fixing element (610) of the        robot battery holder (602).    -   M9. A method in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments        M1 to M8 and with the features of embodiment M7, wherein the        battery charging unit (132) further comprises a station battery        holder (600) and a fixing element (610) in accordance with any        of the embodiments D17 to D19 and wherein the grabber element        (350, 350A, 350B) is configured to unlatch the battery (400)        from the fixing element (610) of the at least one station        battery holder (600).    -   M10. A method in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments M1 to M9 and with features of embodiments M7 and M8,        wherein the battery handling mechanism (300) unloads the battery        (400) from the mobile robot (20), wherein the process of        unloading a battery (400) from a mobile robot (20) comprises the        steps of:        -   a) the battery handling mechanism (300) positioning the            battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) in the robot            battery holder (602),        -   b) the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) grabbing            the battery (400) positioned in the robot battery holder            (602),        -   c) the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) unlatching            the battery (400) from the fixing element (610) of the robot            battery holder (602),        -   d) the battery handling mechanism (300) moving the battery            grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) holding the battery (400)            away from the robot battery holder (602).    -   M11. A method in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments M1 to M10 and with features of embodiment M7,        wherein the battery handling mechanism (300) transports the        grabbed battery (400) to an unoccupied charging unit (132),        wherein the process of transporting a battery (400) to an        unoccupied charging unit (132) comprises the steps of:        -   a) providing at least one controller unit configured to            facilitate the operations of the battery station (10),        -   b) the at least one controller unit of battery station (10)            checking the battery charging units (132) whether they are            occupied by a battery (400) and/or whether they are not            occupied by a battery (400),        -   c) the at least one controller unit of the battery station            (10) finding an unoccupied battery charging unit (132),        -   d) the at least one controller unit of the battery station            (10) providing the coordinates of the unoccupied charging            unit (132) to the battery handling mechanism (300),        -   e) the battery handling mechanism (300) positioning the            battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) holding a battery            (400) in the unoccupied charging unit (132).    -   M12. A method in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments M1 to M11 and with the features of embodiments M7        and M9, wherein the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B)        loads the grabbed battery (400) to the said unoccupied charging        unit (132) and wherein the process of loading a battery (400) to        an unoccupied charging unit (132) comprises the steps of:        -   a) the battery handling mechanism (300) positioning the            battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) holding a battery            (400) in the station battery holder (600) of the unoccupied            charging unit (132),        -   b) the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) latching            the battery (400) in the fixing element (610) of the station            battery holder (600) of the unoccupied charging unit (132),        -   c) the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) releasing            the battery (400).    -   M13. A method in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments M1 to M12 and with the features of embodiment M7,        wherein the battery handling mechanism (300) transports the        battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) to a battery charging        unit (132) being occupied by a charged battery (400), wherein        the process of transporting a battery (400) to an occupied        charging unit (132) comprises the steps of:        -   a) providing at least one controller unit configured to            facilitate the operations of the battery station (10),        -   b) the at least one controller unit of battery station (10)            checking the battery charging units (132) whether they are            occupied by a charged battery (400) and/or whether they are            not occupied by a charged battery (400),        -   c) the at least one controller unit of the battery station            (10) finding a battery charging unit (132) occupied by a            charged battery (400),        -   d) the at least one controller unit of the battery station            (10) providing the coordinates of the battery charging unit            (132) occupied by a charged battery (400) to the battery            handling mechanism (300),        -   e) the battery handling mechanism (300) positioning the            battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) in the battery            charging unit (132) occupied by a charged battery (400).    -   M14. A method in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments M1 to M13 and with the features of embodiment M7 and        M9, wherein the battery handling mechanism (300) unloads the        charged battery (400) from the battery charging unit (132),        wherein the process of unloading a battery from a charging unit        (132) comprises the steps of:        -   a) the battery handling mechanism (300) positioning the            battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) in the station            battery holder (600) of the charging unit (132) occupied by            a battery (400),        -   b) the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) grabbing            the battery (400) positioned in the said station battery            holder (600),        -   c) the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) unlatching            the battery (400) from the fixing element (610) of the said            station battery holder (600),        -   d) the battery handling mechanism (300) moving the battery            grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) holding the battery (400)            away from the station battery holder (600).    -   M15. A method in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments M1 to M14, and with the features of embodiment M7        and M8, wherein the battery handling mechanism (300) transports        the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) holding a charged        battery (400) to the robot battery holder (602), wherein the        process of transporting a battery (400) to a mobile robot (20)        comprises the steps of:        -   a) providing at least one controller unit configured to            facilitate the operations of the battery station (10),        -   b) the at least one controller unit of the battery station            (10) providing the position of the robot battery holder            (602) to the battery handling mechanism (300) by providing            the position obtained in step M5 to the battery handling            mechanism (300),        -   c) the battery handling mechanism (300) positioning the            battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) holding a charged            battery (400) to the robot battery holder (602).    -   M16. A method in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments M1 to M15, and with the features of embodiments M4        and M8, wherein the localization element (343) is further        configured to locate the at least one robot battery holder (602)        of the mobile robot (20).    -   M17. A method in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments M1 to M16 and with the features of embodiment M7 and        M8, wherein the grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) loads the        charged battery (400) to the at least one robot battery holder        (602) of the mobile robot (20) and wherein the process of        loading a battery to a mobile robot (20) comprises the steps of:        -   a) the battery handling mechanism (300) positioning the            battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) holding a battery            (400) in the robot battery holder (602),        -   b) the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) latching            the battery (400) in the fixing element (610) of the robot            battery holder (602),        -   c) the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B) releasing            the battery (400).

Initiating Charging Process

-   -   M18. A method in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments M1 to M17 further comprising the battery station        (10) initiating the charging process of the discharged batteries        (400) in the charging unit (132).

Server

-   -   M19. A method in accordance with any of the preceding        embodiments M1 to M18, wherein further a server (90) is        provided.    -   M20. A method in accordance with the preceding embodiment        wherein the server (90) communicates with the at least one        mobile robot (20) and with the at least one battery station (10)        to facilitate the battery swapping and/or charging process.

Locating the Battery with Camera

-   -   M21. A method according to any of the preceding embodiments        wherein the battery station (10) comprises a camera (343)        capturing at least one image of the battery (400) of the mobile        robot (20) positioned in the battery load/unload position (115).    -   M22. A method according to the preceding embodiment, comprising        processing, by a data processing device, the at least one image        captured by the camera (343).    -   M23. A method according to the preceding embodiment, comprising        the data processing device determining at least one of presence        and position of the battery (400) on the at least one captured        image by camera (343).

High Friction Material

-   -   M24. A method according to any of the preceding embodiment,        comprising facilitating the positioning of the mobile robot (20)        on the battery load/unload position (115) by providing a high        friction material (1150) on and/or in the surface and/or high        friction surface of the battery station (10) contacted by the        mobile robot (20).

Battery Presence Detector

M25. A method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein thebattery station comprises a battery presence detector (359) providing afeedback when the battery station (10) loads and/or unloads the battery(400) from the mobile robot (10).

-   -   M26. A method according to the preceding embodiment and with the        features of embodiment M10, the method further comprising        providing a feedback signal during step b) of embodiment        M10,—i.e. when the battery grabber element (350, 350A, 350B)        grabbing the battery (400) positioned in the robot battery        holder (602), is performed.    -   M27. A method according to any of the two preceding embodiment        and with the features of embodiment M12, the method further        comprising providing a feedback signal during step c) of        embodiment M12,—i.e. when the battery grabber element (350,        350A, 350B) releasing the battery (400), is performed.    -   M28. A method according to any of the three preceding embodiment        and with the features of embodiment M14, the method further        comprising providing a feedback signal during step b) of        embodiment M14,—i.e. when the battery grabber element (350,        350A, 350B) grabbing the battery (400) positioned in the said        station battery holder (600), is performed.    -   M29. A method according to any of the four preceding embodiment        and with the features of embodiment M17, the method further        comprising providing a feedback signal during step c) of        embodiment M17,—i.e. when the battery grabber element (350,        350A, 350B) releasing the battery (400), is performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings shown and described below serve for illustration purposesonly. They illustrate specific embodiments of the invention and do notintend to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way.

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a battery station,

FIG. 1B shows an inner perspective view of an embodiment of the batterystation,

FIG. 2A shows an embodiment of a battery used with the battery stationcomprising rectangular pin layout,

FIG. 2B shows another embodiment of a battery used with the batterystation comprising circular pin layout,

FIG. 2C shows an embodiment of a battery case used with the batterystation,

FIG. 3A shows a front elevation view of a battery mounted in a stationbattery holder of a charging unit or in a robot battery holder of amobile robot,

FIG. 3B shows a front elevation view of another embodiment of a batterymounted in a station battery holder of a charging unit or in a robotbattery holder of a mobile robot,

FIG. 3C depicts an embodiment of a battery grabber element configured toprovide feedback signal when successfully grabbing a battery;

FIG. 3D depicts another embodiment of a battery grabber elementconfigured to provide feedback signal when successfully grabbing abattery;

FIG. 4A shows a general perspective view of an embodiment of a batteryhandling mechanism,

FIG. 4B shows a general perspective view of another embodiment of abattery handling mechanism,

FIG. 4C shows an enlarged view of an embodiment of a battery grabberelement,

FIG. 4D shows a schematic view of a localization element,

FIG. 4E depicts a localization element comprising a camera,

FIG. 4F depicts a battery comprising a recognizable pattern,

FIG. 5A shows a front view of an embodiment of a flexural joint usedwith the battery station,

FIG. 5B shows a perspective view of the embodiment of the flexuraljoint,

FIG. 6 shows a schematic description of a battery swapping methodaccording to an embodiment,

FIG. 7A shows a bottom view of a system comprising a mobile robot and abattery station,

FIG. 7B shows an embodiment of a hub comprising a mobile robot and abattery station wherein said battery station is integrated in the floorof the hub, and

FIG. 7C shows an embodiment of a system comprising a mobile robot, abattery station and a server.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

In this section, exemplary embodiments of the battery station 10 will bedescribed, referring to the figures. These examples are given to onlyprovide further understanding of the invention and do not intend tolimit the scope of the present teaching in any way.

In the following description, a series of features and/or steps aredescribed. The skilled person will appreciate that unless required bythe context, the order of features and steps is not critical for theresulting configuration and its effect. Further, it will be apparent tothe skilled person that irrespective of the order of features and steps,time delays between steps can be present between some or all of thedescribed steps.

FIG. 1A depicts an outer perspective view of an embodiment of thebattery station 10. Throughout the text, to keep the sentences clear andnot overloaded, the battery station 10 may be referred to as station 10.The embodiment of the station 10 as depicted in FIG. 1A, may comprise astation body 101 encapsulating inner elements of station 10. The stationbody 101 can be a rigid material adapted to support the weight of amobile robot 20 (shown in FIG. 7A) that can be serviced by the station10. The station body 101 may comprise plastic material, such asacrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Further, the station body 101 maycomprise a thickness in the range of 2 to 5 mm, such as 3 mm

In the front section of the station 10 a ramp 103 can be attached to thestation body 101. The ramp 103 can assume a closed position and an openposition (not shown in the figure). Further the ramp 103 may comprise ahandle element 117. The handle element 117 can be adapted to open theramp 103 such that inner elements of station 10 can be accessed by anoperator. The handle element 117 can be further adapted to keep the ramp103 fixed to the station body 101 when the ramp 103 assumes a closedposition. The handle element 117 can be further adapted to remove theramp 103 from the station body 101. In another embodiment of station 10,the ramp 103 may be a continuation of the station body 101 (i.e.

there can be no distinct separation between ramp 103 and station body101). In yet another embodiment, station 10 may not comprise the ramp103. The ramp 103 can be inclined from the top of the station 10 to theground such that the mobile robot 20 can easily approach station 10 to abattery load/unload position 115 (refer to FIG. 1B).

The battery load/unload position 115 can be a position configured tofacilitate the operation of the station 10 on the mobile robot 20 suchas the loading and unloading of the battery 400 to and from a mobilerobot 20. That is, the battery load/unload position 115 can be aposition configured such that, when the mobile robot 20 can bepositioned in the battery load/unload position 115, the at least one ofthe batteries 400 of the mobile robot 20 can be aligned with the batterystation 10, within a misalignment range of 0.1-2 cm, such as 1 cm. In aspecific embodiment, the battery load/unload position 115 can be aposition where the center of the battery 400 of the mobile robot 20 canbe aligned with the center of the surface opening 109 of the station 10in the X and Y coordinates, i.e. the center of the battery 400 of themobile robot 20 can comprise the same X and Y coordinate with the centerof the surface opening 109, when the mobile robot 20 can be positionedin the battery load/unload position 115 (refer to the reference axisprovided in FIG. 1B).

According to an embodiment, station 10 can be configured to facilitatethe positioning of the mobile robot in the battery load/unload position115. In such embodiments, the station 10 can further comprise at leastone guiding element 105, preferably a plurality of guiding elements 105.The guiding elements 105 can be adapted to facilitate the positioning ofthe mobile robot 20 to the battery load/unload position 115. In apreferred embodiment, the guiding elements 105 can comprise at least onemarker 105, preferably a plurality of optical markers 105. In a morepreferred embodiment, the at least one guiding element 105 can beconfigured as a straight line 105, preferably as a plurality of straightlines 105. The station 10 can preferably comprise 2 to 10 straight linesthat can be configured to indicate the battery load/unload position 115.The horizontal lines 105 can comprise colors preferably distinguishablefrom the colors of station body 101. In an exemplary embodiment, thestation body 101 may comprise a dark grey color, and the horizontallines 105 may comprise white or bright yellow color. The mobile robot20, by means of optical sensors and/or cameras 812 (refer to FIG. 7A),can be adapted to sense the horizontal lines 105 and can continue todrive until it cannot sense the horizontal lines 105 anymore. Lengths ofthe horizontal lines 105 can be adapted such that to direct the mobilerobot 20 to the battery load/unload position 115.

In some embodiments, the straight lines 105 can be configured as anidentifier for the battery station 10 or for a specific group of batterystations 10. That is, the battery station 10 or a specific group ofbattery stations 10 can comprise a specific width of any of theplurality of straight lines 105. The battery station 10, or a specificgroup of battery stations 10 can also comprise a specific length of anyof the plurality of straight lines 10. The battery station 10 or aspecific group of battery stations 10 can also comprise a specificdistance between any of the plurality of straight lines 105. The batterystation 10 or a specific group of battery stations 10 can comprise aspecific color of any of the plurality of straight lines 105. Thebattery station 10 or a specific group of battery stations 10 can alsocomprise a specific number of straight lines 105. Such a feature of thestraight lines 105 can be advantageous for the battery station 10 andpreferably for the mobile robot 20, as it can uniquely identify abattery station 10, or a specific group of battery stations 10. Thus,the mobile robot 20 can know which of the battery station 10 or whichgroup of the battery stations 10 it is using. The straight lines 10configured as a battery station identifier can also be advantageous, asthey avoid the need of implementing a separate identifier on the batterystation 10 by integrating it into the plurality of the straight lines105.

Additionally, the positioning of the mobile robot 20 in the batteryload/unload position 115 can be facilitated by the high frictionmaterial 1150 or a high friction surface topography etc. The highfriction material 1150 can be placed on the surface of the batterystation 10, more preferably, on the surface of the battery station 10that can be contacted by the wheels of mobile robot 20 (see FIG. 7A formore details on the mobile robot 20). As depicted in FIG. 1A, the highfriction material 1150 can cover part of or all of the batteryload/unload position 115 of station 10. Additionally or alternatively,the high friction material 1150 can cover part or all of the ramp 103,preferably part of the ramp 103 wherein it can be expected for thewheels of the robot 20 to contact the ramp 103, such as, on the sides ofthe ramp 103 as depicted in FIG. 1A.

The high friction material 1150 can comprise a material with a highfriction coefficient. Thus, the high friction material 1150 positionedbetween the battery station 10 and the wheels of the mobile robot 20,while the mobile robot 20 drives on the battery station 10, can providea contact surface with a higher friction coefficient between the station10 and the robot 20—as compared to the case when the high frictioncoefficient 1150 is not provided. This may result in the reduction orelimination of slippage of the wheels 806 of the mobile robot 20 (seeFIG. 7A) while driving on the station 10, which in turn ca facilitate amore accurate positioning of the mobile robot 20 on the batteryload/unload position 115. For example, the mobile robot 20 may use,among other sensors, an odometer for measuring the distance it travelsbased on wheel rotations. Slippage of the wheels of robot 20, cause“empty rotations”, that is, part of rotation of the wheels of the robot20 does not contribute on movement of the robot 20. Hence, the datareceived by the odometer may lose accuracy in instances of wheelslippages, which can cause an inaccurate positioning of the robot 20 onthe load/unload position 115. However, the application of the highfriction material 1150 on the surface of the station 10 that can becontacted by wheels of robot 20, can reduce or eliminate slippage ofwheels of the robot 20, and thus, contributing on a better positioningof the robot 20 on the battery load/unload position 115.

The high friction material 1150 can be applied on the surface of station10 like an ink, adhesive and/or layer 1150 configured for comprising ahigh friction coefficient. For example, the ink or layer 1150 can createa non-smooth surface on top of or adhered to the surface of station 10wherein it can be applied on. The surface of the station 10 that can becontacted by the robot 20, such as, on the sides of the ramp 103 and thebattery load/unload position 115, can be treated or painted with the ink1150 or a layer 1150 can be adhered therein, hence resulting in a lesssmooth surface with a higher friction coefficient 1150.

Further, the battery station 10 can comprise a surface opening 109 thatcan be adapted to allow a battery handling mechanism 300, which may alsobe referred to as handling mechanism 300 (refer to FIG. 4A, 4B) toaccess the battery 400 (refer to FIG. 2A, 2B, 2C) of the robot 20, whenthe robot 20 is positioned in the battery load/unload position 115. Inan embodiment of station 10, the surface opening 109 can be furtheradapted to allow the battery 400 pass through it, i.e. the surfaceopening 109 comprises dimensions slightly bigger or bigger than thebattery 400, such that the battery handling mechanism 300, can at leastone of load and unload the battery 400 from the mobile robot 20.

Further, the surface opening 109 may comprise a covering element 110.The covering element 110 of the surface opening 109 can be adapted toprevent external objects such as dust, mud, stones, etc., from enteringinside the station 10. Such external objects may damage the innerelements of the station 10, if allowed entry. Thus, to make station 10more robust to such damages from external objects, the covering element110 can be provided. The covering element 110 can also secure thatunauthorized persons access the inner elements of station 10. Thecovering element 110 can assume an open and a closed position. In FIG.1A only the open position of the covering element 110 is shown, i.e. thecovering element 110 can slide over the surface of the battery station10, thus opening or uncovering the top opening 109. When the coveringelement 110 is in the open position, the battery 400 and the handlingmechanism 300 can pass through the surface opening 109. When thecovering element 110 is in the closed position, it covers the surfaceopening 109, thus isolating the inside of station 10 from the outside.In one embodiment, the covering element 110 can be attached by one ofits edges to the corresponding edge of the surface opening 109 by meansof a rotational joint (not shown). In such an embodiment, the coveringelement 110 can rotate with respect to the edge of joint, thus openingand closing the surface opening 109. In another embodiment, the coveringelement 110 of the surface opening 109 can slide beneath the surface ofstation 10 to assume the said opening position. In yet anotherembodiment, as depicted in FIG. 1A, the covering element 110 can slideover the surface of the battery station 10 to assume the openingposition—i.e. to uncover or open the top opening 109.

In one embodiment, the covering element 110 of station 10 can be openedby the handling mechanism 300. When the handling mechanism 300approaches the surface opening 109, it can apply a force on the coveringelement 110, thus forcing it to open. In such embodiments, the coveringelement 110 can be adapted to easily open i.e. a small force is requiredto open it, so that the structure of the station 10 and/or handlingmechanism 300 cannot be damaged. In another embodiment, the coveringelement 110 can be automatically controlled by the controllers ofstation 10. In such embodiments, moving actuators (not shown) can beprovided for the covering element 110, which can be controlled by thecontrollers of station 10 to open and/or close the covering element 110.

Station 10 can further comprise an identification element 107. Theidentification element 107 can be adapted to be read by the mobile robot20 such that the mobile robot 20 can recognize at which station 10 it iscurrently located. In a preferred embodiment, each station 10 or eachgroup of stations 10 can comprise a unique identification element 107.The identification element 107 preferably can be a QR code 107 that canbe read by optical sensors and/or cameras 812 of the mobile robot 20.

Station 10 can further comprise a plurality of wheels (not shown)attached to the bottom of the station body 101 such that the station 10can be moved freely and/or in a guided manner Station 10 may comprise amotor (not shown) which would further facilitate the movements of thestation 10. In another embodiment, the station 10 may be remotelycontrolled by an operator. In yet another embodiment, the station 10 canbe adapted to move autonomously or semi-autonomously. In a hazardsituation, the battery 400 of the mobile robot 20 can drain below theexpected energy level required for the robot 20 to approach a hub 80, ora station 10. In such a situation, an operator can remotely controlstation 10, to approach the said mobile robot 20 with the drainedbattery 400 and/or the station 10 can semi-autonomously drive to thelocation of the said mobile robot 20. When station 10 approaches thesaid robot 20, the battery swapping procedure (described below) caninitiate. A hazard situation can also be a situation when the battery400 malfunctions.

Typical dimensions of the station 10 may be as follows. Width: 30 to 100cm, preferably 50 to 70 cm. Height: 15 to 35 cm, preferably 20 to 25 cm.Length: 50 to 150 cm, preferably 80 to 110 cm.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, an inner perspective view of an embodiment ofstation 10 is shown. In this figure, for a better illustration of theinner elements of station 10, the station body 101 and ramp 103 ofstation 10 are neglected and shown as transparent. Station 10 cancomprise at least one battery charging unit 132, which can be alsoreferred to as charging unit 132. In a preferred embodiment, station 10can comprise a plurality of battery charging units 132, preferably 2-10charging units 132, more preferably 3-5 charging units 132, such as 3charging units 132. In FIG. 1B, station 10 comprises six batterycharging units 132, numbered from 1 to 6. It should be noted that thisnumbering is done for illustration purposes only.

Battery charging units 132 can be adapted to at least one of hold andcharge the batteries 400. That is, in an embodiment the battery chargingunits 132 can be configured to hold at least one battery 400, i.e. keepthe battery 400 fixed to battery charging unit 132. In anotherembodiment, the battery charging unit 132 can be configured to chargethe battery 400. In a preferred embodiment, the battery charging unit132 can be configured for both hold and charge a battery 400.

Further, the battery charging unit 132 can be configured to charge thebatteries 400 at variable rates, such as with variable chargingcurrents. The charging rate can be adjustable to the charging unit 132,preferably at the beginning or during the battery 400 charging process.The charging rate can be adjusted by a remote operator. In anembodiment, the charging rate of the charging units 132 can also beadjusted by the controllers of the station 10. The charging rate can bechosen based on different factors such as: the capacity of the battery400, temperature of the battery 400, temperature of the charging unit132, required time for the battery 400 to be charged, etc. The batterycharging units 132 can be preferably configured to charge with a minimumrate of 0.6 C to 4 C, more preferably 1 C to 3 C, with C referring tothe capacity of the battery 400 being charged, or with C referring to abattery capacity taken as a reference capacity. Thus, charging withlower rates, such as 0.6 C can require more time to charge the batteryand, charging with higher rates, such as 4 C can require less time.Usually, charging with higher rates can have destructive effects on thebatteries, such as reducing the lifetime of the battery. Thus, decidingon a charging rate can be a trade-off between considering battery healthand reducing the time needed to charge the battery.

Further, the charging units 132 may indicate to the controller unit (notshown) of station 10 if they occupy a battery 400. A battery chargingunit 132 that can be at least one of holding and charging a battery 400can be referred to as an occupied charging unit 132. The charging units132 may indicate to the controller unit (not shown) of station 10 ifthey do not occupy a battery 400. A battery charging unit 132 that isnot holding and charging a battery 400 can be referred to as anunoccupied charging unit 132. The charging units 132 may also indicateto the controller of station 10 the charging level of the battery 400they are occupying. Thus, the station 10 can know at every moment whichof its battery charging units 132 is occupied by a battery 400 and atthe same time can know which of the batteries 400 positioned in itscharging units 132 are fully charged and can be used for swapping. Thecontroller unit of station 10 can be programmed to use differentalgorithms for making the decision of assigning the current dischargedbattery 400, unloaded from the mobile robot 20, to a charging unit 132or choosing a charged battery 400 from the charging unit 132 and loadingit to the mobile robot 20. An example of such an algorithm can beFirst-In-First-Out (FIFO) algorithm, i.e. the first battery thatfinished the charging process will be used for the next batteryswapping.

As depicted by FIG. 1B station 10 can further comprise a batteryhandling mechanism 300 preferably attached to the base of the stationbody 101. The handling mechanism 300 can be adapted to move the grabberelement 350 a precise distance, in its reaching range, in the x, y, zdirections as depicted by the reference axes shown in FIG. 1B. Saidreaching range can be the space comprising the charging units 132 ofcharging station 10 and the battery 400 of a mobile robot 20 whereinsaid robot 20 is positioned in the battery load/unload position 115.

Thus, given a specific point p (x₁, y₁, z₁) in the reaching range of thehandling mechanism 300, the handling mechanism 300 can position, thegrabber element 350, for example the center point of the grabber element350, at point p (x₁, y₁, z₁), within the range of some positioning errorE. The value of E depends on the actuators comprised by the batteryhandling mechanism 300. The positioning error E, should preferably beless than 10 mm, more preferably less than 5 mm, even more preferablyless than 2 mm

Referring to FIG. 2A, an enlarged view of an embodiment of the battery400 that can be used by station 10 is shown. Internal elements (notshown) of the battery 400 can be encapsulated by battery body 402. Onthe top the battery body 402 can comprise a battery lid 430. The batterylid 430 can be attached on the rest of the battery body 402. In anembodiment, the battery lid 430 can assume a closed and/or an openposition (not shown).

When the battery lid 430 assumes the closed position, it can cover thetop surface of the battery body 402, thus enclosing the internalelements of the battery 400. When the battery lid 430 assumes the openposition, the internal element of the battery 400 can be exposed. Anoperator can have access to the internal elements of the battery 400and/or replace or fix the elements of the battery 400. In anotherembodiment of the battery 400, the battery lid 430 can be a continuationof the battery body 402, i.e. there can be no clear distinction betweenthe battery body 402 and the battery lid 430. Yet in another embodimentthe battery body 400 may not comprise a battery lid (430).

Further, the battery 400 can comprise a plurality of electricalconnectors 420, preferably a plurality of electrical pins 420. In theembodiment depicted in FIG. 2A, the electrical connectors can beattached on the battery lid 430. These electrical pins 420 can beadapted to electrically connect the battery 400 with the batterycharging units 132 and/or the mobile robot 20. They can be furtheradapted to provide extra support for the battery 400, damping to somelevel the vibrations of the battery 400 due to the movements of themobile robot 20. In an embodiment, the station battery holder 600 andthe robot battery holder 602 (refer to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B) can compriseelectrical contact points (not shown) configured to create contact withthe electrical pins 420 when the battery 400 is positioned respectivelyin the station battery holder 600 or the robot battery holder 602. Thatis, in such embodiments, the electrical contact points can allow thestation battery holder 600 and the robot battery holder 602 toelectrically connect with the electrical pins 420, and thus the battery400, when the battery 400 is positioned in the station battery holder600, or the robot battery holder 602. In another embodiment, the stationbattery holder 600 and/or the robot battery holder 602 can comprise pininsertion places (not shown), where electrical pins 420 can be insertedto establish an electric connection between the battery 400 andrespectively the station battery holder 600 or the robot battery holder602. In another embodiment, the station battery holder 600 and the robotbattery holder 602 can comprise a combination of the electrical contactpoints and pin insertion places, configured to establish an electricconnection between the battery 400 and respectively the station batteryholder 600 or the robot battery holder 602.

In one embodiment, the battery 400 can further comprise at least twodamping pins 422. In a preferred embodiment, the battery 400 cancomprise a plurality of damping pins 422. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 2A, the battery 400 comprises a plurality of damping pins 422attached in the battery lid 430. The at least two damping pins 422 canprotrude from the battery body 402. The damping pins 422 comprise adistal top and a proximal base. The proximal base is located closer tothe battery body 402 than the distal top. The minimum bounding circle ofthe proximal base is larger than the minimum bounding circle of thedistal top. In a simple example, the damping pins 422 can be pyramid orcone shaped (or, preferably, shaped as a truncated cone or pyramid).However, the damping pins 422 can comprise different shapes, as long asthe minimum bounding circle of the base is larger than that of the top.The minimum bounding circle refers to the smallest circle encapsulatingthe whole area of the base and the top respectively.

In an embodiment, the robot battery holder 602 and the station batteryholders 600 can comprise a plurality of damping pin insertion places(not shown), where the damping pins 422 can be inserted. In anotherembodiment, the robot battery holder 602 and the station battery holder600, may not comprise the damping pin insertion places. The damping pins422 can be adapted to provide extra fixing means of the battery 400 tothe robot battery holder 602 or the charging units 132 of station 10.The damping pins 422 can be adapted to damp possible vibrations of thebattery 400 when the battery 400 can be attached to the mobile robot 20or when attached to the charging units 132. As the mobile robot 20moves, this can cause vibrations of the battery 400. These vibrationscan damage the structure of the battery 400, for example, they candamage the electrical pins 420, the battery lid 430, the battery cells(not shown), the inner circuitry of the battery (not shown) etc.Particularly the electrical connectors 420 can, over time, deform theelectronics they can be connected to if not balanced out by the dampingpins 422. The same situation can happen when the battery 400 can beattached to one of the charging units of the station 10, where possiblevibrations can be produced by the station 10 being in motion, by theoperation of the station 10 etc. At the same time, these vibrations canalso cause possible damages to the structure of the mobile robot 20 orcharging units 132, more specifically to the robot battery holder 602and/or to the station battery holder 600. Thus, to avoid these damagesand/or to provide a longer life for the battery 400, robot 20 and/orstation 10 the damping pins 422 can be provided. When the battery 400can be attached to a robot battery holder 602 and/or station batteryholder 600, the damping pins 422 can be inserted in their respectivedamping pin insertion places, consequently the battery will be attachedto the battery holders 600 and/or 602 in a more fixed manner, thus itwill be more robust to vibrations. Alternatively, no insertion placesmay be provided, and the damping pins 422 can compensate for the forceapplied by the electrical connectors 420.

Battery 400 can further comprise at least one battery status transmitter426. In a preferred embodiment, the battery status transmitter cancomprise an infrared transmitter and/or receiver 426, such as aninfrared sensor 426. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2A, the batterystatus transmitter 426 can be attached to the battery lid 430. Thebattery status transmitter 426 can be adapted to transmit informationrelated to the status of the battery 400. Such information can includethe unique battery ID and/or the charging level of the battery 400,and/or other battery parameters such as charging cycles. The mobilerobot 20 and/or the station 10 can be adapted to detect, sense and/ordecode the information transmitted by the battery status transmitter426. In the preferred embodiment, wherein the battery status transmitter426 can comprise an infrared sensor 426, the mobile robot 20 and/or thestation 10 can also comprise a second infrared sensor (not shown)adapted to detect, sense and/or decode the signals emitted by thebattery infrared sensor 426. The information received can then beprocessed by the controller units of the mobile robot 20 and or thecontroller units of the charging station 10, to create a history foreach of the batteries 400, to count the number of charge-dischargecycles that a certain battery 400 has experienced, to decide on thecharging time of a certain battery 400 and/or to decide whether abattery requires service, etc. ther benefits of the battery statustransmitter 426 are explained further in this document, with referenceto the mobile robot 20, when describing FIG. 7A.

Further, the battery 400 can comprise a fixing unit 410, which may alsobe referred to as a latch/unlatch mechanism 410. In some embodiments,the battery 400 can comprise at least one fixing unit 410, preferably aplurality of fixing units 410, such as two fixing units 410. Theplurality of fixing units 410 can be configured to fix the battery 400to the station battery holder 600 or the robot battery holder 602 in amore rigid manner That is, the plurality of fixing units 410 can createa stronger support for the battery 400. The plurality of fixing units410, such as two fixing units 410, can be positioned on opposite sidesof the battery 400. This can be advantageous as it can prevent possiblenon-intended inclinations of the battery 400 relative to the stationbattery holder 600 or the robot battery holder 602 when the battery 400is attached respectively to the station battery holder 600 or the robotbattery holder 602. Such inclinations can cause damages on the structureof the battery 400 or to the structure of the station battery holder 600or the robot battery holder 602. Such inclinations can furtherelectrically disconnect the battery 400 from the station battery holder600 or the robot battery holder 602.

The fixing unit 410 can be configured to fix the battery 400 to therobot battery holder 602 or station battery holder 600. That is, thefixing unit 410 can be configured to keep the battery 400 fixed andpreferably non-movable in the robot battery holder 602 or stationbattery holder 600. The fixing unit 410 can also be configured tosupport at least the weight of the battery 400. This can be particularlyadvantageous if an external force, such as gravity, acts on the battery,tending to displace the battery from the intended position in the robotbattery holder 602 or station battery holder 600. The fixing unit 410,can move back and forth in a direction as depicted by double arrow 984,within a distance limited by walls 406 and 408 of the battery body 402.It should be noted, that the double arrow is shown here just forillustration purposes and is not part or element of any embodiment ofbattery 400. In an embodiment, the fixing unit 410 can comprise asliding latch configured to move along the battery body 402 between aclosed position and an open position. The fixing unit 410 positioned inthe closed position can be configured to extend in the structure of thestation battery holder 600 or the robot battery holder 602 to latch thebattery 400 to the station battery holder 600 or the robot batteryholder 602. The fixing unit 410 positioned in the open position isconfigured to unlatch the battery 400 from the station battery holder600 or the robot battery holder 602.

Further, the battery body 402 can comprise a protruding structure 404 tohelp fix the fixing unit 410 on the battery 400. The protrudingstructure can be further configured to allow the grabber element 350(refer to FIG. 3A) to grab the battery 400. The grabber 350 can move thefixing unit 410 of the battery 400 back and forth to release/fix thebattery 400 from/to the latches 610 of the station battery holder 600and the robot battery holder 602 (refer to FIG. 3A).

Referring now to FIG. 2B, another embodiment of the battery 400 isshown, referred as battery with circular pin layout 400B, or simply asbattery 400B. Similar to the embodiment of the battery 400 depicted inFIG. 2A, the battery 400B can comprise a battery body 402, a battery lid430, electrical pins 420, damping pins 422, battery status transmitter420, latch/unlatch mechanism 410, limiting walls 406, 408 and/or theprotruding structure 404. These components comprised by the batteryembodiment 400B can be similar to the components of the batteryembodiment 400 depicted in FIG. 2A and therefore their description isomitted. The description of these components made for the embodiment ofFIG. 2A, can be also valid for the components of the battery 400B. Whatdiffers the embodiment of the battery 400 depicted in FIG. 2A, from theembodiment of the battery 400B depicted in FIG. 2B, is the layout of theelectrical and damping pins 420, 422. In FIG. 2A, the battery 400comprises a substantially rectangular layout of the electrical anddamping pins 420, 422. In FIG. 2B the embodiment of the battery 400Bcomprises a substantially circular layout of the electrical and dampingpins 420, 422. It should be noted that the embodiments depicted in FIG.2A and FIG. 2B are illustrative embodiments for the battery 400. Otherembodiments of the battery 400, e.g. with different layouts of theelectrical and damping pins 420, 422 may be used with the station 10. Itshould be noted, that throughout this document, for simplicity reasons,and to keep the sentences clear, whenever referring to the battery 400,only reference to the embodiment of the FIG. 2A is explicitly provided,with the numeral 400. Whenever referring to the battery 400, referenceto the embodiment 400B and other embodiments of the battery should beimplied.

In another embodiment, the battery body 402 and the battery lid 430,comprising the elements 420, 426, 422, 408, 406, 404 and/or 410,described in the preceding paragraphs, can be a component on its own asdepicted by battery case 400C, shown in FIG. 2C. The battery case 400Ccomprises a battery case body 402, and/or a battery case lid 430. It canfurther comprise a plurality of electrical connectors 422, at least twodamping pins 426, a battery status transmitter 426, at least onelatch/unlatch mechanism 410, limiting walls 406, 408, and/or aprotruding structure 404. The outer structure of the battery case 400Ccan be similar to the outer structure of the battery 400. Therefore,they can comprise similar elements and the description for theseelements is omitted, since the elements 402, 430, 420, 426, 422, 408,406, 404 and 410 are described in the preceding paragraphs.

In one embodiment, the battery case 400C can encapsulate the innerelements (not shown) of the battery 400. Inner elements of the battery400 may refer to any element of the battery 400 that is not exposed tothe surroundings, i.e. can be encapsulated by the battery body 402,battery lid 430 and/or the battery case 400C, such as the battery cells,the required wiring for transmitting the electric charges in and out ofthe battery 400, the required circuitry for charging, discharging and/orother functionalities of the battery 400, like the circuitry needed forbattery status transmission, etc. Thus, in such an embodiment, thebattery 400 comprises the inner elements (like the examples provided inthe preceding sentence) which can be enclosed by the battery case 400C.In this embodiment, the manufacturing of the battery can be separatedfrom the manufacturing of the inner elements and the production of thebattery case 400C. Thus, during the manufacturing of the battery 400,the inner elements can be adapted to fit in the battery case 400C and/orthe battery case 400C can be adapted to encapsulate and/or hold theinner elements of the battery 400.

In another embodiment, the battery case 400C can serve as a batteryadapter 400C. Different mobile robot battery standards exist in thestate of the art. In this document, it is referred to such batteries asuniversal mobile robot batteries 500. A universal mobile robot batterycan be any battery that can be used by a mobile robot 20. An example ofa universal mobile robot battery 500 can be the battery 400. Thus, theuniversal mobile robot battery 500 refers to a more general class ofrobot batteries than the battery 400. In one embodiment, the universalrobot battery 500 can be adapted to be inserted into, i.e. encapsulatedby the battery case 400C.

In a preferred embodiment, the battery case 400C can be adapted toencapsulate the universal robot battery 500. The adapter means can referto, for example, means for establishing an electrical connection (notshown), means for keeping the battery 500 fixed to the battery case 400C(not shown), etc. The adapter means can further include electronicand/or electric circuitries (not shown) for adapting the voltage,current and/or power produced by the universal robot battery 400C, tothe voltage, current and/or power required by the device using theuniversal robot battery 400C such as a mobile robot 20, a station 10,etc. The battery case 400C serving as an adapter for the universal robotbattery 500 can be facilitated further if the 3D printing technology canbe used for the production of the battery case 400C. In such anembodiment, the battery case 400C, can allow the use of a more generalclass of batteries 500 to be used by the station 10 and/or the mobilerobot 20, than the one depicted by the battery 400.

It should be noted, that whenever referring to the battery 400,reference to the battery case 400C encapsulating a universal mobilerobot battery 500 can be implied as well. For clarity, explicitreference to battery case 400C encapsulating a universal mobile robotbattery 500 is avoided by referring only to the battery 400.

Referring now to FIG. 3A, an embodiment of a station battery holder 600of the charging unit 132 is shown. The robot battery holder 602comprises similar elements as the station battery holder 600. For thisreason, explicit figures for both the station battery holder 600 and therobot battery holder 602 are not shown. Thus, in this paragraph wheneverreferring to station battery holder 600, reference to robot batteryholder 602 should be implied. The station battery holder 600 cancomprise a cavity, which in the figure is shown to be occupied by thebattery 400. The cavity of the station battery holder 600 can be adaptedto enclose or encapsulate the battery 400. Further, the station batteryholder 600 can comprise a fixing element 610 that keep the battery 400fixed to the station battery holder 600 once the battery 400 can beattached to it. The fixing element 610 can comprise latches 610 as shownin FIG. 3A. Latches 610 can be some elongated parts extended from thebody of station battery holder 600, adapted to support the weight of thebattery 400.

In FIG. 3A, the battery grabber element 350 of the battery handlingmechanism 300 of the station 10 is shown in more detail. The batterygrabber element 350 can comprise a grabber element frame 353. Thegrabber element frame 353 can be adapted to attach the grabber 350 tothe battery handling mechanism 300. Further, the grabber element 350 cancomprise two pairs of grippers: grabbing grippers 355 and supportivegrippers 357. Grippers 355 and 357 can be attached on both sides of thegrabber element frame 353 such that each side of the grabber elementframe 353 comprises at least one grabbing gripper 355 and one supportivegripper 357. The grabbing grippers 355 can be adapted to grab the fixingunit 410 of the battery 400. Supportive grippers 357 can be adapted toprovide extra support so that the grabber element 350 can hold thebattery 400 while loading, unloading and/or transporting it. In anotherembodiment, the grabber element 350 can comprise only the grabbinggrippers 355. In yet another embodiment, the grabber element cancomprise only the supportive grippers 357. In another embodiment, thegrabbing grippers 355 can be adapted to also support the battery 400. Inyet another embodiment, the supportive grippers 357 can be adapted toalso grab the fixing unit 410 of the battery 400. In another embodiment,the grabber element 350 can comprise an actuator (not shown) wherein thesaid actuator can be configured to move the grabbing grippers 355 and/orthe supportive grippers 357. Said actuator can be controlled by thecontroller units of the station 10, to move the grabbing grippers 355and/or the supportive grippers 357 in a certain manner configured forgrabbing and/or releasing the battery 400 from the grabber element 350.

For a better understanding on how the grabber element 350, the stationbattery holder 600 and the battery 400 interact, a load/unload procedureof the battery 400 from the station battery holder 600 is described inthe following. To unload the battery 400 from the station battery holder600, the grabber 350 can first attach itself to the battery 400 byattaching its grabbing grippers 355 to the fixing unit 410 of thebattery 400. Then, the grabber element 350 can proceed by detaching thebattery 400 from the station battery holder 600. This can beaccomplished by moving the fixing unit 410 away from the latches 610. Inan embodiment, the grabbing grippers 355 can unlock the battery 400 fromthe station battery holder 600, by moving the fixing unit 410 away fromlatches 610 a predefined distance. That is the grabbing grippers 355 canreach a specific unlocking position. The battery grabber element 350 canbe configured so that a feedback signal is communicated to thecontrollers of the station 10 when grabbing grippers 355 reach saidspecific unlocking position while unlocking the battery 400 from thestation battery holder 600. When such a feedback signal is processed inthe controllers or in a processing component of station 10, thecontrollers of station 10 can confirm that the grabbing element 350 wasable to successfully unlock and grab the battery 400 from the stationbattery holder 600 (see FIGS. 3C and 3D for embodiments of the grabberelement 350 configured to provide at least one feedback signal when itsuccessfully grabs the battery 400). The protruding structure 404 cancomprise an extended element 444, which can also be referred to as theear 444. In a preferred embodiment, the ears 444 are positioned in theinner part of the protruding structure 404, in both sides of theprotruding structure 404. The respective ears 444 can be allowed contactwith the respective grabbing grippers 355 and the supportive grippers357, when the grabber element 350 unlatches the battery 400 from thelatches 610, i.e. moves the fixing unit 410 away from the latches 610.In a specific example, when the grabber element 350 unlatches thebattery 400, the grabbing grippers 355 and the supportive grippers 357move toward the respective ear 444. This way, when the battery handlingmechanism 300 moves the battery grabber 350 away from the stationbattery holder 610, the contact between the grippers 355, 357 and therespective ear 444, makes it possible for the battery 400 to follow themovement of the battery grabber element 350. The battery handlingmechanism 300 can move the grabber element 350 away from the stationbattery holder 600, thus unloading the battery 400 from the stationbattery holder 600. Similar unloading procedure can also be done forunloading a battery 400 from the robot battery holder 602.

To load the battery 400 to the station battery holder 600, the reverseprocedure to the one just described can be done. Firstly, the batteryhandling mechanism 300 can direct the grabber element 350 holding abattery 400 towards the station battery holder 600 such that the battery400 can occupy the cavity of the station battery holder 600. At the sametime, the electrical pins 420 of the battery 400 can be inserted intothe corresponding holes on the station battery holder 600, establishingthe electric connection between them. Then, the grabber element 350 canlock the battery 400 to the station battery holder 600 with the help ofthe grabbing grippers 355. This can be done by moving the fixing unit410 of the battery 400 towards the latches 610 of the station batteryholder 600. The battery 400 can be locked in the station battery holder600 if the fixing unit 410 is moved a predefined distance towards thelatches 610, that is when the grabbing grippers 355 have reached aspecific locking position. The battery grabber element 350 can beconfigured so that if the grabbing grippers 355 have reached saidspecific locking position, a locking feedback signal is generated andcommunicated to the controllers of station 10. When such a feedbacksignal is processed by the controllers of station 10, station 10 canconfirm that the grabbing element 350 was able to successfully lock thebattery 400 to the station battery holder 600 (see FIGS. 3C and 3D forembodiments of the grabber element 350 configured to provide feedbacksignal when it releases the battery 400 from itself). Having loaded thebattery 400 successfully in the station battery holder 600, the grabber350 can release the battery 400 and the battery handling mechanism 300can move the grabber 350 away from the battery 400. Similar loadingprocedure can also be done for loading a battery 400 to the robotbattery holder 602.

In FIG. 3B, another embodiment of the station battery holder 600,referred to as 600A, is shown. The robot battery holder 602A comprisesimilar or corresponding elements as the station battery holder 600A.For this reason, an explicit figure for both the station battery holder600A and the robot battery holder 602A is not shown. Thus, in this andthe following paragraph whenever referring to station battery holder600A, reference to robot battery holder 602A should be implied. Stationbattery holder 600A comprises different fixing elements compared to theembodiment shown in FIG. 3A. The station battery holder 600A cancomprise latches 710 that extend from the body of the station batteryholder 600A. Latches 710 can assume an open position, allowing thebattery to move freely in the station battery holder 600A, or a closedposition keeping the battery fixed to the station battery holder 600A.Preferably, the station battery holder 600A can comprise a plurality oflatches 710. The battery body 402 of the battery 400A can comprisefixing unit 410A adapted such that the latches 710 of the stationbattery holder 600A can be attached to keep the battery 400A fixed inthe station battery holder 600A. Preferably, the battery 400A comprisesa plurality of fixing unit 410A, symmetric to the latches 710 of thestation battery holder 600A. Fixing unit 410A can be a plurality ofholes in the battery body 402 of the battery 400A such that the latches710 of the station battery holder 600A can be inserted into the holes410A of the battery 400A.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3B, the battery grabber element 350B cancomprises a plurality of grippers 755, symmetric to the latches 710 ofstation battery holder 600A. To load the battery 400A the grabber 350Bcan open the latches 710, allowing the battery 400A to be inserted intothe station battery holder 600A. Then, the grabber 350B can load thebattery 400A into the station battery holder 600A such that the latches710 can be inserted in the holes 410A of the battery 400A. To unload thebattery 400A from the station battery holder 600A, a similar process canbe done. First, the grabber 350B can position its grippers 755 betweenthe latches 710A and the holes 410A, then it can proceed by opening thelatches 710, thus detaching the battery 400A from the latches 710. Atthis moment, the battery 400A can be pulled out of the station batteryholder 600.

In FIG. 3C, a detailed view of an embodiment of a battery grabberelement 350 is depicted. The battery grabber element 350 depictedherein, is configured to provide feedback signals when it successfullygrabs or releases a battery 400.

As already discussed (e.g. in FIG. 3A), the battery grabber element 350can comprise a battery grabber element frame 353. Said battery grabberelement frame 353 can be configured to provide support to the structureof the grabber element 350. Additionally, the battery grabber elementframe 353 can be configured to attach the grabber element 350 to thebattery handling mechanism, as well as attach or assemble the parts ofthe battery grabber element 350. That is, attached to the batterygrabber element frame 353 the grabbing grippers 355 can be provided.Through the grabbing gripper 355 the grabber element 350 can grab thebattery 400 and displace it.

Additionally, attached to battery grabber element frame 353 the grabberelement 350 can comprise a battery presence detector 359. The batterypresence detector 359 can be configured to provide a feedback when thebattery 400 is attached to or grabbed by the battery grabber element350. Vis-a-vis the presence detector 359 can be configured to providefeedback if the battery 400 is not attached to or grabbed by the batterygrabber element 350. Such feedback may facilitate or improve theoperation of the grabber element 350 and in general of the station 10.

The battery presence detector 359 can comprise a battery presencedetector frame 3593, for simplicity also referred as frame 3593 (not tobe confused with the battery grabber element frame 353). Said frame 3593of the battery presence detector 359 can be configured to attach orsecure the battery presence detector 359 on the battery grabber element350, such as on the battery grabber element frame 353. For example, theframe 3593 of battery presence detector 359 can be screwed on thebattery grabber element frame 353.

Additionally, flexibly connected to the frame 3593 of the batterypresence detector 359 a switch cover 3594 can be provided to the batterypresence detector 359. The flexible connection between the frame 3593 ofthe battery presence detector 359 and the switch cover 3594 can berealized by the flexible attachments 3592 which can also be referred asbuckled elastic rods 3592. As depicted in FIG. 3C, four flexibleattachment 3592 can attach the switch cover 3594 with frame 3593 throughfour different corners of the switch cover 3594. The flexibleattachments 3592, like strings, can keep the switch cover “hanging” onthe frame 3593. Thus, the switch cover 3594 can move, “up and down” in adirection perpendicular to the frame battery grabber element 353.

Below or covered by the switch cover 3594, at least one switch (notshown) can be placed, such as two switches. Hence, the allowed movementof the switch cover 3594 can activate and deactivate the switch, e.g. bypressing or releasing a button. That is, the allowed movement of theswitch cover 3594, provided by the flexible attachment 3592, can allowthe switch cover 3594 to assume or move between at least two positions,wherein in one of the positions the switch cover 3594 can contact andpreferably apply a force on the switch below it and on the otherposition the switch cover 3594 may not contact the switch covered by itand/or the pressure applied on the switch may be lower (as compared tothe first position). The switch can be configured to open and close acircuit, that can be connected to the controller of the station 10.Hence, it can be known, e.g. by the controller of station 10 and/or anoperator, that the switch covered by the switch cover 3594 is closed oropened.

Thus, when the grabber element 350 grabs the battery 400 it can lie onthe battery grabber element frame 353 and can contact the switch cover3594. Furthermore, the weight of the battery 400 can move the switchcover 3594 toward the battery grabber element frame 353, hence pressingtoward the at least one switch positioned therein between the batterygrabber element frame 353 and switch cover 3594. This can cause the atleast one switch to change its state (e.g. from a closed state to anopen state or vice-versa), which change of state can be captured andrecognized by the controller of station 10. Hence, upon a successfulgrabbing of the battery 400 a feedback signal can be produced by thebattery presence detector 359 announcing to a processor unit or thecontroller of station 10 that the battery 400 is successfully grabbed.

Similarly, when the battery 400 is released from the battery grabberelement 350 the pressure on the switch cover 3594 pressing it towardsthe battery grabber element frame 353 can reduce. This can cause theswitch beneath the switch cover 3594 to change its state, henceannouncing to the controller of station 10 that the battery 400 isreleased from the battery grabber element 350 and that the battery 400is not anymore supported or grabbed by the grabber element 350.

In FIG. 3D yet another embodiment of a battery grabber element 350comprising a battery presence detector 359 is depicted. In thisembodiment, the battery presence detector 359 can be provided betweenthe grippers 355 of the grabber element 350. In FIG. 3D, only onebattery presence detector 359 is depicted, however, the grabber element350 can be provided with multiple battery presence detectors 359. Forexample, another battery presence detector can be provided between theother pair of grippers 355 of the battery grabber element 350.

In a similar manner as discussed with respect to the embodiment of FIG.3C, the battery presence detector 359, depicted in FIG. 3D, can beflexibly attached to the battery grabber element frame 353. The flexibleconnection with the battery grabber element frame 353 can allow thebattery presence detector 359 to move “up and down” in the directionperpendicular to the battery grabber element frame 353. Thus, thebattery presence detector 359 can be contacted and pressed by thebattery 400, when the grabber element 350 grabs the battery 400. Battery400 pressing on the battery presence detector 359 can change the stateof a switch (not shown) comprised by the battery presence detector 359.The state change of the switch can be recognized by the controller ofthe station 10, hence indicating the grabbing of the battery 400 by thegrabber element 350. Similarly, when the battery 400 is released fromthe grabber element 350, pressure on the battery grabber element 359 canbe reduced, allowing the battery presence detector 359 to return to itsnormal position, which in turn changes the state of the switch comprisedby the battery presence detector 359. This can allow the controller 10to check if the battery is released or grabbed by the grabber element350.

In the preceding paragraphs, a limited number of embodiments of thebattery 400, the station battery holder 600 and the battery grabberelement 350 are illustrated. It is valuable to notice, that differentembodiments of the battery 400, the station battery holder 600 and thebattery grabber element 350 can be used with the station 10.Furthermore, the embodiments of the battery 400, the station batteryholder 600 and the grabber 350 can be combined in different ways toprovide different embodiments of the station 10. In the followingparagraphs whenever referring to station battery holder 600 with thecorresponding battery embodiment 400 and corresponding battery grabberelement embodiment 350 with their corresponding elements, reference tothe station battery holder 600A with the corresponding batteryembodiment 400A and corresponding battery grabber element embodiment350B with their corresponding elements should be implied and wheneverreferring to the robot battery holder 602 with the corresponding batteryembodiment 400 and corresponding battery grabber element embodiment 350with their corresponding elements, reference to the robot battery holder602A corresponding battery embodiment 400A and corresponding batterygrabber element embodiment 350B with their corresponding elements shouldbe implied. In other words, whenever referring to the embodimentsdepicted in FIG. 3A reference to the embodiments depicted in FIG. 3B orFIG. 3C should be implied, unless otherwise clarified by the context.

Referring now to FIG. 4A, an embodiment of the battery handlingmechanism 300, which may also be referred to as handling mechanism 300,is shown. As described in the preceding paragraphs, the handlingmechanism 300 can be adapted to position the grabber element 350 in aspecific location p(x, y, z) within its reaching range. During loadingand/or unloading of the batteries 400 from the station battery holder600, or the robot battery holder 602, the controller unit of the station10 can provide the coordinates of the battery 400 load or unloadlocation to the handling mechanism 300. The battery load/unload locationcan be the location where the handling mechanism 300 should load orunload the battery 400, such as the station battery holder 600 or therobot battery holder 602. The handling mechanism 300 can be adapted toposition the grabber element 350 at the specified coordinates.

The handling mechanism 300 can comprise a base 303, referred to asbattery handling mechanism frame 303. The battery handling mechanismframe 303 of the handling mechanism 300 can be fixed in the base of thestation 10 (refer to FIG. 1B). At least one linear shaft 305 can beattached to the battery handling mechanism frame 303. In a preferredembodiment, a plurality of parallel linear shafts 305 can be attached tothe battery handling mechanism frame 303, such as two parallel linearshafts 305. Linear shafts 305 can be adapted to facilitate the movementof the grabber element 350, by guiding the grabber element 350, in thedirection of the x-axis (with reference to the coordinative system givenin FIG. 1B). In a preferred embodiment, the linear shafts 305 cancomprise elongated metallic rods 305 adapted to comprise a smooth outersurface, such as, for example, high carbon chromium steel. The length ofthe linear shafts 305 can be adapted such that the handling mechanism300 can position the grabber element 350, according to the x-direction,at each of the charging units 132 of the station 10, as well as at thesurface opening 109. The diameter and/or strength of the linear shafts305 can be adapted to support the weight of the grabber element 350 andof the batteries 400.

Further, the battery handling mechanism 300 can comprise at least onex-axis actuator 307. The x-axis actuator 307 can be adapted to move thegrabber element 350 in the x-direction (with reference to the coordinatesystem given in FIG. 1B). In one embodiment, the x-axis actuator 307 cancomprise a motor 309. The motor 309 can be controlled so as to producepredefined linear movements of the grabber element 350 in thex-direction. For example, the controllers of the station 10 can signalthe motor 309 to move x₁ cm on the x-axis, wherein x₁ can be any numberfrom 0 to the maximum reaching range of the x-axis actuator. In apreferred embodiment, motor 309 can be a stepper motor 309. The x-axisactuator 307 can be a hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator, electricalactuator, magnetic actuator, or a mechanical actuator,electro-mechanical actuator, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the x-axisactuator 307 can be an electrical-mechanical actuator 307, such as atraveling-nut actuator with fixed nut and roller screw, a traveling-nutactuator with fixed screw and roller nut, rack and pinion actuator, etc.It should be noted that in this paragraph only some exemplaryembodiments of actuator types for the x-axis actuator 307, are provided.Other actuators can also be adapted to be used by the battery handlingmechanism 300 of the station 10.

It should be noted that, throughout the text, the coordinate systemdepicted in FIG. 1B should be taken as a reference coordinate systemunless otherwise implied by the context.

The grabber element 350 can be attached to the linear shafts 305 and/orto the x-direction actuator 307, by means of horizontal frames 310 andlifting mechanism 325. The horizontal frames 310 can comprise movesmoothing elements 312. The move smoothing elements 312 can be placed inthe vicinity of the connection points between the horizontal frames 310and the linear shafts 305. The move smoothing elements 312 can beadapted to decrease the friction between the horizontal frame 310 andthe linear shafts 305, resulting in a smooth linear movement of grabberelement 350 along the linear shafts 305. In a preferred embodiment, themove smoothing elements 312 comprise at least one linear bearing 312.The diameter of linear bearing 312 can be in accordance with thediameter of the linear shafts 305.

The lifting mechanism 325, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, can beadapted to guide the movement of the grabber element 350 in thez-direction. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4A, the liftingmechanism 325 can be configured as a scissor lift mechanism 325. Thelifting mechanism 325, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4A, cancomprise two elongated structures 337 forming an “X” shape and/or can beformed like a scissor lift. The elongated structures 337 can be adaptedto facilitate the movement of the grabber element in the z-direction.The elongated structures 337 can be further adapted to provide extrasupport for the lifting mechanism 325 to hold the grabber element 350and/or the battery 400. The lifting mechanism 325 can be attached to thehorizontal frame 310 and to the grabber element 350 by means ofrotational joints. Further, the two elongated structures 337 of thelifting mechanism 325 can be attached to each other by means ofrotational joints. These joints can be adapted to allow the grabberelement 350 to assume any position on the z-axis within the reachingrange of the handling mechanism 300.

The movement of the grabber element 350, in the z-direction can beproduced by the z-axis actuator 327. In one embodiment, the z-axisactuator 329 can comprise a motor 329. The motor 329 can be controlledso as to produce predefined linear movements of the grabber element 350in the z-direction. For example, the controllers of the station 10 cansignal to the motor 329 to move z₁ cm on the z-axis, wherein z₁ can beany number from 0 to the maximum reaching range of the z-axis actuator.In a preferred embodiment, motor 329 can be a stepper motor 329. Thez-axis actuator 327 can be a hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator,electrical actuator, magnetic actuator, and/or a mechanical actuator,electro-mechanical actuator, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the z-axisactuator 327 can be an electrical-mechanical actuator 327, such as atraveling-nut actuator with fixed nut and roller screw, a traveling-nutactuator with fixed screw and roller nut, rack and pinion actuator, etc.It should be noted that in this paragraph only some exemplaryembodiments of actuator types for the z-axis actuator 327, are provided.Other actuators can also be adapted to be used by the battery handlingmechanism 300 of the station 10.

Referring now to FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, another embodiment of the liftingmechanism referred to with numeral 325A is shown. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, the lifting mechanism 325A can beconfigured as a parallelogram lift 325. The lifting mechanism 325Acomprises a base frame 344. The base frame 344 can be adapted to attachthe lifting mechanism 325A to the linear shafts 305 by means of movesmoothing elements 312 (not shown here) that can be similar to the onesdescribed with reference to FIG. 4A. The grabber element 350A (refer toFIG. 4C) can be attached to the base frame 344 by the guiding liftingelements 337A. The guiding lifting elements 337A can be adapted tofacilitate the movement of the grabber element in the z-direction. Theguiding lifting elements 337A can be further adapted to provide extrasupport for the lifting mechanism 325A to hold the grabber element 350Aand/or the battery 400. In a preferred embodiment, the lifting mechanism325A comprises a plurality of guiding lifting elements 337A. The guidinglifting elements 337A can be separated into two pairs, wherein each paircan be attached to one of the two sides of the grabber 350A parallel tothe plane (x, z), as depicted in FIG. 4A. The guiding lifting elements337A can be attached to the grabber element 350A by means of rotationaljoints 341.

Further, the lifting mechanism 325A can comprise a z-axis actuator 327A.The z-axis actuator 327A can be a hydraulic actuator, pneumaticactuator, electrical actuator, magnetic actuator, or a mechanicalactuator, electro-mechanical actuators, etc. In a preferred embodiment,the z-axis actuator 327A can be an electrical-mechanical actuator 327A,such as a traveling-nut actuator with fixed nut and roller screw, atraveling-nut actuator with fixed screw and roller nut, rack and pinionactuator, etc. It should be noted that in this paragraph only someexemplary embodiments of actuator types for the z-axis actuator 327A,are provided.

In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 4B said z-axis actuator 327A can beconfigured as a traveling-nut actuator 327A comprising at least onescrew metallic rod and one motor 329A, preferably a stepper motor 329A.The motor 329A can be controlled such as to produce predefined linearmovements of the grabber element 350A in the z-direction. The z-axisactuator 327A can act on the grabber element 350A with a force parallelto the z-direction. While loading, or unloading a battery 400, thegrabber element 350A can move in parallel with the z-direction. In otherwords, the lifting mechanism 325A can produce movement of the grabber350 along the z-axis only. However, the torque generated by the z-axisactuator 327A can produce movement in the z-direction and x-direction atthe same time. Thus, it can be advantageous that the x-directionmovement be nulled. To accomplish this, the x-axis actuator 307 (referto FIG. 4A) can compensate the x-direction movement produced by thetorque of the z-axis actuator 327A. So, suppose the z-axis actuator 327Acan rotate the grabber 350 by an angle a with respect to the base frame344 and suppose that the length of guiding lifting elements 337A is l.This can mean that the grabber 350 can move a distance (l·sin α) alongthe z-direction and (l·cos α) along the x-direction. For keeping aconstant position in the x-direction while lifting the grabber 350, thex-axis actuator 307 can simultaneously move (−l·cos α), while the z-axisactuator 327A can rotate the grabber 350 by an angle α. Thus, themovement in the x-direction can be compensated for, while the movementin the z-direction can be (l·sin α).

In FIG. 4D, a schematic view of a localization element 343 according toan embodiment is shown. The localization elements 343 can be implementedin the station 10. In an embodiment, the localization elements 343 canbe implemented directly in or on the surface of station 10, facing thebottom of the mobile robot 20. The localization element can be placed onor in the station body 101. In another embodiment, the localizationelements 343 may be implemented in the handling mechanism 300,preferably in the battery grabber 350 of the handling mechanism 300. Inthe embodiment depicted in FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, the localization element343 can be implemented in the battery grabber element 350A. In anembodiment, the localization element 343 can be configured to detect thepresence of at least one localization target 700 in its sensing range515. In another embodiment, the localization element 343 can beconfigured to locate at least one localization target 700 in its sensingrange 515. In yet another embodiment, the localization element 343 canbe configured to detect and locate at least one localization target 700in a reaching range of the grabber element 350.

The localization target 700 can be any object that can be positioned inthe sensing range 515 and that can be detected and/or located by thelocalization target 343. In an embodiment, the localization target 700can be the battery 400. That is, in such embodiments, the localizationelement 343 can be configured to at least one of detect and locate thebattery 400, when the battery 400 is in the sensing range 515. In aspecific example, the localization element can be configured to at leastone of detect and locate the battery 400 of the mobile robot 20, whenthe mobile robot 20 is in the battery load/unload position 115. Inanother embodiment, the localization target can be the mobile robot 20.That is, in such embodiments, the localization element 343, can beconfigured to at least one of detect and locate a mobile robot 20, whenthe mobile robot 20 is in the sensing range 515. In a specific example,the localization element 343 can detect and locate a mobile robot 20,when the mobile robot 20 is positioned in the battery load/unloadposition 115. In yet another embodiment, the localization target 700 canbe both the battery 400 and the mobile robot 20. In some embodiments,the localization target 700 can comprise any of the battery 400, mobilerobot 20, part of mobile robot 20 surrounding the battery 400, thebattery charging unit 132, the station battery holder 600, the robotbattery holder 602.

The localization elements 343 may comprise at least one sensor device510, that can also be referred to as sensor 510, preferably a pluralityof sensors 510 adapted to sense the localization target 700, when saidlocalization target 700 is positioned within the sensing range 515 ofsaid sensors 510. The sensor device 510 can be configured to emitelectromagnetic waves. Such electromagnetic waves can comprise anon-negligible energy or a non-negligible amplitude in the sensing range515. That is, the sensing range 515 can be the zone in the vicinity ofthe sensor device 510, wherein the electromagnetic waves emitted by thesensor 510 can comprise a non-negligible energy or amplitude. The sensordevice 510 can be configured to detect changes in the emittedelectromagnetic waves in the sensing range 515. That is, the sensingrange 515 can be the zone in the vicinity of sensor 510, wherein thesensor 510 can be capable of detecting changes in the electromagneticfield the sensor 510 creates. Outside the sensing range 515, the sensor510 cannot detect the changes in the electromagnetic field it creates.The volume of the sensing range 515 can depend on the type of the senordevice 510 that can be used. Different sensor 510 types and technologiescomprise different sensing range. It can be advantageous and desirablethat such a sensing range be maximized. In a specific example, thesensing range 515 can have dimensions, such that when the mobile robot20 is positioned in the battery load/unload position 115, the at leastone of mobile robot 20 and battery 400 of the mobile robot 20 ispositioned within the sensing range 515.

The sensor device 515 can detect the presence of the localization target700 in the sensing range 515 by continuously, such as periodically,emitting electromagnetic waves in the sensing range 515 and being ableto detect changes in the electromagnetic field in the sensing range 515.Such changes in the electromagnetic field can be caused by the presenceof the localization target 700 in the sensing range 515.

In an embodiment, the sensor device 510 can be an inductive sensor 510.In such an embodiment, the presence of a conductive material in thesensing range 515 can cause changes in the electromagnetic field createdby the inductive sensor 515. Thus, the localization target 700 can be aconductive material surrounding or being surrounded by a non-conductivematerial, or the localization target 700 can be a non-conductivematerial surrounding or being surrounded by a conductive material. In aspecific example, the battery 400 can comprise a non-conductive materialwhile the part of the mobile robot 20 surrounding the battery 400, suchas the bottom of the mobile robot 20, can comprise a conductive materialsuch as a metal sheet like aluminum, or composite material like plasticcoated with aluminum. A specific inductive sensor 515 can detect alocalization target 700 as follows. An oscillating current, such as ACcurrent, that can flow through an inductor (part of localization element343) can generate an oscillating magnetic field, such as AC magneticfield. If a conductive material, such as a metal object, is brought intothe vicinity of the inductor within the sensing range 515, the magneticfield will induce a circulating current (Eddy Current) on the surface ofthe conductor. The resistance and inductance of induced current causedby the Eddy current can be modeled as a distance dependent resistive andinductive component on the localization element 343. Thus, thelocalization element can detect the presence of a conductive material inthe sensing range 515 of the localization element 343.

In another embodiment, the sensor device 510 can be a capacitive sensor510. In such an embodiment, the presence of a localization target 700 inthe sensing range 515 can cause changes in the electromagnetic fieldcreated by the capacitive sensor 510. In such embodiments, thelocalization target 700 can comprise any material and can be surroundedby or surrounding a different material.

In another embodiment, the sensor device 510 can be configured as aradar 510. That is, the radar 510 can be configured to emitelectromagnetic waves and receive the electromagnetic waves reflected bya localization target 700 within the sensing range 515. In suchembodiments, the localization target 700 can be a conductive materialsurrounded by or surrounding a non-conductive material, or thelocalization target 700 can be a non-conductive material surrounded byor surrounding a conductive material. In a specific example, the battery400 can comprise a non-conductive material, while the part of the mobilerobot 20 surrounding the battery 400, such as the bottom of the mobilerobot 20, can comprise a conductive material such as a metal sheet likealuminum, or composite material, such as plastic coated with aluminum.In such an example, the radar 510 can emit electromagnetic waves towardsthe battery 400 and the bottom of the mobile robot 20, when the mobilerobot 20 is in the battery load/unload position 115, i.e. the battery400 and the bottom of the mobile robot 20 can be in the sensing range515. The bottom of the mobile robot 20, comprising a conductivematerial, can reflect the electromagnetic waves emitted by the radar510. The battery 400, comprising a non-conductive material, cannotreflect the electromagnetic waves, or the reflected electromagneticwaves by the battery 400 can comprise a negligible amplitude or energy.Thus, the radar can detect the presence or the non-presence of thelocalization target 700 in the sensing range by emitting and receivingelectromagnetic waves.

Further, the localization element 343 can comprise a processor unit 505.The processor unit 505 can be configured to receive the sensor 510readings and process them to at least one of detect and locate thelocalization target 700. The processor unit 505 can be part of thecontroller circuitry of the battery station 10 or can be a separateprocessor unit connected to the sensor device 510.

The localization element 343 can be configured to locate a localizationtarget 700. That is, the localization element 343 can find the positionof the localization target 700. The localization element 343 can beconfigured to find at least one of the spatial coordinates of thelocalization target 700 with reference to a coordinate system, such asthe one depicted in FIG. 1B. In an embodiment, the localization target343 can scan the space in the vicinity of the localization targetincluding the localization target. While scanning, the processor unit505 can keep track of the sensors' 510 position. The readings from thesensors can be used to decide whether the localization target 700 issensed or not. Thus, by sensing the localization target 700 and keepingtrack of the position of the sensor 510, the localization target 700 canbe located. In a specific example, the localization element 343 can scanthe bottom of the mobile robot 20. After the scanning, the position ofthe mobile robot 20 can be found. The processor unit 505 can know wherethe battery 400 is positioned in the mobile robot 20. Thus, by havingfound the position of the mobile robot 20 and knowing were the battery400 is in the mobile robot 20, the position of the battery 400 can becalculated. In another example, the localization element 343 candirectly find the location of the battery 400.

FIG. 4E depicts another embodiment of the localization element 343. FIG.4E depicts a view from the top of the station 10, with the cover element110 slid over the surface of station 10, thus opening or uncovering thetop opening 109. The top opening 109 can allow the battery liftingmechanism 325 and the battery grabber element 350 to be seen in thedepicted view. Other elements of station 10, that may be normallyvisible through the top opening 109, are not depicted in FIG. 4E, suchthat the figure is not overloaded.

As it can be noticed, the localization element 343 can be placed nearthe grippers 355 of the grabbing element 350. For example, thelocalization element 343 can be fixated on the structure of the liftingmechanism 325, close to the grippers 355, having a view towards the topopening 109 of station 10. This can allow the localization element 343to sense the region through the top opening 109 of station 10, hencefacilitating localization of the battery 400 of a mobile robot 10positioned in the battery load/unload position 115.

The localization element 343 can comprise a camera 343. Camera 343 canbe connected to a processor unit (not shown) or to the controller of thestation 10. For example, camera 343 can be connected with a processorunit and/or the controller of station 10 through the wired connection3434. The camera 343, placed facing the top opening 109, can capture atleast one image, preferably a plurality of images, of the view allowedby the top opening 109 (when the cover element 110 is in the openposition). As discussed, when a mobile robot 10 is positioned in thebattery load/unload position 115, its battery or batteries 400 can bealigned with the top opening 109. Thus, the camera 343 can capture atleast one image of the battery 400 of the mobile robot 10.

The images captured by camera 343 can be stored in a memory and providedto a processing unit, e.g. to the controller of station 10. Theprocessing unit can process the images captured by the camera 343. Thealgorithm executed to process images captured by camera 343 can beconfigured to detect the presence and position of battery 400 on the atleast one captured image. For example, the algorithm can compare thecaptured images by the camera 343 with training images, said trainingimages comprising images of the battery 400, preferably from differentviewing angles and/or light conditions and preferably images of the sideof battery 400 that normally faces the camera 343.

Thus, using images captured by camera 343 (or localization element 343)the position of the battery 400 relative to the station 10 and/orbattery grabber element 350 and/or with reference to a coordinate systemcan be inferred. Information regarding position of the battery 400 canfacilitate the process of grabbing the battery 400.

In a similar manner, the camera 343 can capture images of the robotbattery holder 602 and can be configured to localize it. This canfacilitate the loading of a battery 400 in the robot battery holder 602.

In addition, at least one light source 3432, such as a strip of LEDlights 3432, flashes etc., can be provided near the camera 343,preferably facing the top opening 109. The light source 3432 can improvethe light conditions around camera 343, e.g. can illuminate the battery400. Thus, the light source 3432 can improve the quality of imagescaptured by camera 343, which can contribute on better results forlocalizing the battery 400 and/or the battery holder 602.

Localization of the battery 400 by the camera 343 can be facilitated bya recognizable pattern 3436 provided in the battery 400, moreparticularly on the side of battery 400 that can be “seen” by camera343, as depicted in FIG. 4F. The recognizable pattern 3436 can comprisedistinctive features, such as, distinctive colors, as compared to thebattery 400 and/or the surrounding. Thus, on the images captured by thecamera 343 the recognizable pattern 3436 can be detected automaticallyby a processor unit processing the images. Though, in FIG. 4F therecognizable pattern is depicted as a regular rectangular pattern, ingeneral it can be any distinctive pattern which can be easily (oreasier) to detect on an image captured by the camera 343.

The recognizable pattern 3436 can make the detection of the battery 400faster, as it can be easier to detect the recognizable pattern 3436 ascompared, for example, to detecting the battery 400. For example, on theimages captured by the camera 343 the edges separating the battery 400from the background or rest of the image may be less visible than theedges separating the recognizable pattern 3436 from the rest of theimage. Thus, it can be easier and faster for a processing unit to detectthe recognizable pattern 3436. Similarly, the recognizable pattern 3436can be detected and localized with higher precision as compared tolocalizing the battery 400 without the recognizable pattern 3436, henceimproving the accuracy of localizing the battery 400.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the grabber element 350A can further comprise aplurality of grippers 355, such as four grippers 355. The grippers 355can be attached to the grabber element 350A by means of a flexural joint360. The flexural joint 360 can allow the grippers 355 to adapt tohorizontal misalignments of the battery 400. For example, due to someobstacles like snow, stones, dust, mud etc., stuck to the wheels 806(see FIG. 7A) of the robot 20, the bottom surface of the robot 20 maynot be parallel to the grabber element 350A, which can cause possiblemisalignment between the grabber element 350A and the battery 400. Inanother example, a downward force due to the weight of the battery 400can be applied on the grabber element 350A, when the battery grabberelement 350A can support the battery 400. Due to possible misalignments,this force can be unequally distributed on the grippers of the grabberelement 350A, more particularly on the grippers 355. Thus, a biggerdownward force due to the weight of the battery 400 can be applied onsome of the grippers 355 than on the other grippers 355. The sameunequal distribution of forces can be applied on the battery 400, due tothe counterforce associated with each force, wherein some parts of thebattery 400 can suffer a bigger force than other parts of the battery400. In yet another case, possible vibrations of the grabber element canoccur while the battery handling mechanism 300 moves the grabber element350A. These vibrations can also be produced by the possible movements ofthe station 10, or by other similar external effects. In a case wherethe battery grabber element 350 can loaded with a battery 400, saidvibrations can also be transmitted to the battery 400. Such situationscan damage the structure of the grippers 355, the battery grabberelement 350A and/or the battery 400. Thus, to deal with such hazardoussituations, the grippers 355 can be attached to the battery grabberelement 350A by means of the flexural joint 360. Referring to FIG. 5Aand FIG. 5B an embodiment of the flexural joint 360 is shown. Theflexural joint 360 can be an element adapted to join two or more otherelements, e.g. the flexural joint 360 can be adapted to join the gripper355 to the grabber element 350A. Further, the flexural joint 360 can beadapted to allow certain motion by bending in certain directions, e.g.due to possible hazard situations discussed in the preceding paragraph,the flexural joint 360 can bend at certain parts that can be attached tothe grippers 355 experiencing a larger force due to the unequaldistribution of the weight of the battery 400. The bending of theflexural joint 360, at certain parts of it, can be proportional to theforce applied on those respective parts, i.e. the grippers 355experiencing a bigger force can bend part of the attachment with theflexural joint 360 more than the grippers 355 experiencing a weakerforce. This feature of the flexural joint 360 can equalize thedistribution of weight of the battery 400 over the grippers 355, thusovercoming the hazard situations related to possible misalignment of thebattery 400 with the grabber element 350.

The movement of the flexural joint 360 can be made possible by deformingthe material of the flexural joint 360. The flexural joint 360 cancomprise flexible material. The flexural joint 360 can be made out ofone piece of material. In a preferred embodiment, the flexural joint 360can comprise a material that can repeatedly bend, to a certain bendlevel, without disintegrating. in a preferred embodiment, the flexuraljoint 360, can be manufactured using 3D printing technology.

Referring to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B a preferred embodiment of the flexuraljoint 360 is depicted. The flexural joint 360 can be adapted to join twoor more other elements. Thus, the flexural joint 360 can comprise atleast two mounting points, preferably a plurality of mounting points,adapted to attach the other elements to the flexural joint 360. in theembodiment depicted in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B the flexural joint comprisesthree mounting two of them positioned at the first mounting sides 382and 382′ and the other one positioned at the mounting base 374, Thus, insuch an embodiment, the flexural joint 360 can be adapted to join threeelements to each other. In another embodiment, the flexural joint 360can have another mounting point on the top side 378 of flexural joint360. In another embodiment, the flexural joint 360 can have at least onemounting point positioned at any of the elements 382, 382′, 374 and/or378.

In an embodiment, the flexural joint 360 can be configured as acartwheel hinge 370 (refer only to element 370 in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B).The cartwheel hinge 370 can comprise two elastic elongated elements 372,which can also be referred to as leaves 372. The leaves 372 can beintersected with each other in the pivot point 375. In a preferredembodiment, the pivot point 375 can be in the middle of the leaves 372.The base 374, connecting the ends of the leaves 372 as depicted in FIG.5A and FIG. 511 , can be left free, i.e. it cannot be connected to thefirst limiting wall 371 and/or second limiting wail 373. Such astructure can allow the base 374 to rotate with respect to the pivotpoint 375. Said rotation can be made possible by the bending of theleaves 372. This rotation can be limited by the first limiting walls 371and/or by the second limiting wall 373. The distance between the firstlimiting wall 371 and/or second limiting wail 373 from the mounting base374, can be chosen such that the maximum rotation of the mounting base374, allowed by the first limiting wall 371 and/or second limiting wall373, does not break the leaves 372. The more flexible the material ofthe leaves 372, the bigger the allowed rotation of the base 374, themore the flexibility offered by the cartwheel hinge 370.

In another embodiment, the flexural joint 360 can be configured as aparallelogram flexure 380 (refer only to element 380 in FIG. 5A and FIG.5B). The parallelogram flexure 380 can comprise two vertical sides andtwo horizontal sides creating a parallelogram-like shape. In thedepicted embodiment, the parallelogram flexure 380, comprises a firstmounting side 382 and a second mounting side 384. The parallelogramflexure can further comprise a first elastic arm 386 and a secondelastic arm 388. The second mounting side 384 and the first mountingside 382 can be connected by the first elastic arm 386 and or the secondelastic arm 388 forming a parallelogram structure. In a preferredembodiment, the parallelogram flexure 380 can be configured to join atleast two other elements, by mounting them on the first mounting side382 and/or the second mounting side 384. In a situation, wherein a forceis applied on the first mounting side 382, i.e. the force can be appliedby the element mounted on first mounting side 382, and the secondmounting side 384 is kept fixed, i.e. it is mounted to a fixednon-movable object, then the second elastic arm 388 and the firstelastic arm 386 will bend on the direction of the applied force,allowing the first mounting side to move in the direction of the appliedforce. Similar situation can happen when a force is applied on thesecond mounting side 384 and the first mounting side 382 is kept fixed,or when both the first mounting side 382 and the second mounting side384 are not fixed.

In a preferred embodiment, the first elastic arm 386 and the secondelastic arm 388 are thinner than the second mounting side 384 and thefirst mounting side 384. In a preferred embodiment, the ratios betweenthe thickness of the second mounting side 384, first mounting side 382,second elastic arm 388, first elastic arm 386 can be as follows:

${\frac{{Thickness}{of}{the}{first}{mounting}{side}382}{{Thickness}{of}{the}{second}{mounting}{side}381}{can}}{{{be}{in}{the}{range}{of}0.2{to}5.},}$

more preferably 0.80 to 1.25, such as 1.0.

${\frac{{Thickness}{of}{the}{second}{elastic}{arm}388}{{Thickness}{of}{the}{first}{elastic}{arm}386}{can}}{{{be}{in}{the}{range}{of}0.7{to}2},}$

more preferably 0.80 to 1.25 such as 1.0.

${\frac{{Thickness}{of}{the}{first}{mounting}{side}382}{{Thickness}{of}{the}{second}{elastic}{arm}388}{can}}{{{be}{in}{the}{range}{of}1.{to}10.},}$

more preferably 1.0 to 10.0, such as 3.0.

It should be noted the ratios given above relate to some preferredembodiments and are provided here for a deeper understanding of thestructure of such embodiments of the parallelogram flexure 380. Suchratios and/or the sizes of the parallelogram flexure can be adaptedbased on the application of the parallelogram flexure. Such adaption isdone based on the requirements of the application of the parallelogramflexure, i.e. for more flexibility but less supported weight thethickness of the second elastic arm 388 and/or the first elastic arm 386can be reduced. For more supported weight but less flexibility thethickness of the of the second elastic arm 388 and/or the first elasticarm 386 can be increased. Furthermore, for more supported weight and/orstronger mounting points the thickness of the first mounting side 382and/or the thickness of the second mounting side 384 can be increasedand if less supported weight and/or weaker mounting points are requiredthe thickness of the first mounting side 382 and/or the second mountingside 384 can be decreased. Such adaption means can be beneficial sincethey increase the range of application of such a flexure. This adaptioncan be facilitated further if 3D printing technology is used.

In a preferred embodiment, such as the one depicted in FIG. 5A and FIG.5B, the flexural joint 360 is configured as a combination of cartwheelhinge 370 and parallelogram flexure 380. The flexure joint 360 cancomprise at least one of the following elements:

cartwheel hinge 370, parallelogram flexure 380. In the depictedembodiment in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the flexural joint 360 comprises onecartwheel hinge 370 and two parallelogram flexures 380 the leftparallelogram flexure 380 and the right parallelogram flexure 380′. Theleft parallelogram flexure 380 and the right parallelogram flexure 380′comprise similar structures. In an embodiment, the left parallelogramflexure 380 is attached to the cartwheel hinge 370 by mounting thesecond mounting side 384 of the left parallelogram flexure 380 with thefirst limiting wall 371 of the cartwheel hinge 370 and/or the rightparallelogram flexure 380′ is attached to the cartwheel hinge 370 bymounting the second mounting side 384′ of the right parallelogramflexure 380′ with the second limiting wall 373 of the cartwheel hinge370. In another preferred embodiment, the second mounting side 384 ofthe left parallelogram flexure 380 and the first limiting wall 371 canbe the same element and/or the second mounting side 384′ of the rightparallelogram flexure 380′ and the second limiting wall 373 can be thesame element. in such embodiment, the flexural joint 360 is manufacturedas one element, with no distinct separation between the parallelogramflexures 380 and/or the cartwheel hinges 370.

The combination of the parallelogram flexure 380 and the cartwheel hinge370, increases the flexibility of the flexural joint 360. The flexuraljoint 360 can support more degrees of freedom with respect toflexibility. Vertical motion, up and down, can be allowed by theparallelogram flexure 380, and rotation motion, with respect to thepivot joint 375, can be allowed by the cartwheel hinge 370.

In a preferred embodiment, the flexural joint 360 can he adapted for useby a grabber element, such as the battery grabber element 350A, 350and/or 350B of the station 10 (refer to FIG. 4C). In the depictedembodiment, the flexural joint 360, can be adapted to join two grippers355 with the grabber element 350A. The flexural joint 360 can heattached to the body of the grabber element 350A through the mountingbase 374. One gripper 355 can be attached on one of the mounting sides382, 384, for example on the first mounting side 382 and/or anothergripper 355 can be attached on the other mounting side, for example onthe second mounting side 384. When force can be applied to the grippers355, the flexural joint 360 can bend in certain direction as describedin the preceding paragraph.

Throughout the document, different embodiments for the elements ofstation 10 were provided. in the provided figures, these embodiments ofthe elements of the station 10 were combined in certain manner. Thiscombination is done only for illustrative purposes. The embodiments ofthe elements of station 10 can also be combined in different manners.Thus, all the combinations of such embodiments should be taken inconsideration unless stated differently.

Referring to FIG. 6 , a flowchart of a procedure of battery swappingaccording to an embodiment is shown. The procedure can start with step903, wherein a mobile robot 20 requires service of station 10. In someembodiments, the mobile robot 20 can be configured to seek service fromthe at least one battery station 10 when the energy level of the atleast one batteries 400 of the mobile robot 20 is below a certainthreshold level. The threshold level can preferably be programmable ontothe at least one robot 20. That is, while operating the mobile robot 20can consume the energy stored in at least one of its batteries 400.Thus, the energy level of at least one of its batteries 400 candecrease. When the energy level of at least one of its batteries 400 issmaller or equal to a threshold level, it can be desirable for themobile robot 20 to require a battery 400 which is storing an energybigger than the threshold level. Thus, it can be desirable for themobile robot 20 to seek service from the battery station. It can also beadvantageous for the threshold level to be programmable on the mobilerobot 20, so that it can easier adapt to cases when a different type ofbattery 400 is used, or to other conditions that affect the batteryconsumption by the mobile robot 20. In some embodiments, the mobilerobot 20 can be configured to seek service from the at least one batterystation 10 when the service life of the battery 400 is over. Forexample, the mobile robot 20 can seek service from the battery station10 when at least one of its batteries 400 can be malfunctioning, havereached a predefined loss of capacity, which can be a fraction of theoriginal capacity of the battery 400 when the battery 400 is produced,or when the battery 400 have reached its end of life. In someembodiments, the mobile robot 20 can be configured to seek service fromthe at least one battery station 10 when the battery is malfunctioning.For example, the battery 400 of the mobile robot 20 does not workproperly. That is, the battery 400 of the mobile robot 20 cannot supplythe required energy, power, voltage and/or current. In another example,the battery's contact points can be damaged. Thus, it can beadvantageous for the mobile robot to seek service from the batterystation, as the battery station can comprise batteries that work in aproper way.

In a next step 905, the mobile robot 20 can approach the battery station10 if it requires service from a station 10. In an embodiment, the robot20 can be provided the coordinates of the station 10 and it can approachin an autonomous or semi-autonomous way the station 10. In anotherembodiment, the mobile robot 20 may have a database containing thepositions of at least the stations 10 positioned in the area the robot20 operates. In another embodiment, the mobile robot 20, can be remotelycontrolled to approach the station 10. In a preferred embodiment, therobot 20 can approach the station 10 that is nearest to it. The mobilerobot 20 can read or detect the identification element 107 of thebattery station 10 so that the robot 20 can know at which batterystation 10 it can have approached. The mobile robot 20 can read ordetect the identification element 107 of the station 10, using theoptical sensors and/or cameras 812 that the mobile robot 20 cancomprise.

In a next step 907, the robot 20 can position itself to the batteryload/unload position 115 by sensing the horizontal lines 105 (see FIG.1A), using the optical sensors and/or cameras 812 (see FIG. 7A). Thatis, the guiding element 105 of the battery station 10 can facilitate thepositioning of the mobile robot 20 in the battery load/unload position115. When the mobile robot 20 can be positioned in the batteryload/unload position 115, the battery 400, of the mobile robot 20 isaligned with the surface opening 109, to facilitate the operation of thebattery handling mechanism 300 on the battery 400.

In a next step 909, the sensors of station 10 may indicate to thecontroller unit of station 10 that a mobile robot 20 is waiting in thebattery load/unload position 115 for a battery swapping. Or suchinformation can be transmitted to the controllers of station 10 by themobile robot 20. In another embodiment, a server 90 (refer to FIG. 6C)may communicate to the battery station 10 that a mobile robot 20 ispositioned in its battery load/unload position 115 waiting for itsservice. The controller unit of station 10 signals the handlingmechanism 300 to initiate the localization of the discharged battery 400positioned in the robot battery holder 602 of the mobile robot 20. Adischarged battery 400 can be any battery 400 with any energy level fromempty to not full.

The handling mechanism 300 can start by positioning the battery grabber350 in the surface opening 109 (see FIG. 1C). Since the surface opening109 can be a fixed element, i.e. its exact position can be known by thecontroller unit of station 10, the handling mechanism 300 can positionthe grabber 350 to the surface opening 109 by simply taking the exactcoordinates of the surface opening 109 from the controller unit ofstation 10. Next step 909 can be to localize the discharged battery 400positioned in the mobile robot 20. Since the range of error of thepositioning of robot 20 in the battery load/unload position 115 can belarger than the misalignment that the mechanical parts of the grabberelement 350 can tolerate, extra localization elements 343 can berequired for grabbing the battery 400.

To illustrate this concept better, the following example is provided.For simplicity, denote the battery load/unload position 115 as being asingle point P_(load). Such a point can for example correspond to theposition of the center of the battery 400 of the mobile robot 20, whenthe mobile robot 20 is positioned in the battery load/unload position115. Sensing the guiding elements 105, the mobile robot 20 can try toposition itself at point P_(load). This method of positioning by theguiding elements 105 comes with an error which can be distributed in therange 0 to d_(MAX). Thus, in the worst case, the robot 20 can bepositioned in the point P_(load)±d_(MAX). In a preferred embodiment, thegrabber element 350 (see FIG. 4A, 4B, 4C), may tolerate an error notlarger than e_(MAX), such as for example e_(MAX)=10 mm. On the otherhand, d_(MAX) may reach values of at least 1 cm in some circumstances.Thus, for a robust device, extra localization elements 343 can berequired to deal with the said worst case or any cases whered_(MAX)≥e_(MAX).

Having localized the position of the battery 400 of the mobile robot 20,station 10 can calculate the misalignment of the battery 400. That is,station 10 can calculate the offset of the current position of thebattery 400, from the perfectly aligned position.

Based on the mechanics and the configuration of station 10, it cancomprise a tolerable misalignment. If the misalignment of the battery400, is smaller than the tolerable misalignment, than station 10,particularly the grabber element 350, can grab the battery 400. If themisalignment of the battery 400, is bigger than the tolerablemisalignment, than the grabber element 350 cannot grab the battery 400.

In a next step 911, station 10 compares the misalignment of the battery400 with the tolerable misalignment. If the misalignment is bigger thanthe tolerable misalignment, the station 10 can report an error 913 to anoperator, or to the server 90. The mobile robot 20 can proceed by makinga decision 915 to abort or not the battery swapping process. In anembodiment, such a decision can be influenced by the type of error 913that occurred. In another embodiment, the mobile robot 20 is configuredto always abort the battery swapping process. In another embodiment, themobile robot 20 is configured to always not abort the battery swappingprocess. In yet another embodiment, the mobile robot 20 is configured tomake such a decision 915 by running a specific algorithm. In yet anotherembodiment, the decision 913 is made by the operator or by the server 90and is communicated to the mobile robot 20. In case the decision 913 ismade to abort the battery swapping process the mobile robot 20 proceedsto step 917 and aborts the battery swapping process. If the decision 913is made to not abort the battery swapping process, then the mobile robot20 proceeds to step 919 wherein the mobile robot 20 can leave thebattery station 10 and loops back to step 905. Step 905 is followed bystep 907, 909, 911 and so on as described in the preceding paragraphsand in the flowchart of FIG. 6 .

However, in some instances, in step 919, the mobile robot may not leavethe battery station 10, but may correct or try to correct its position,and the method can loop back to step 907 instead. That is, while in FIG.6 the method comprises the mobile robot 10 leaving the battery stationin step 919 after it is decided to abort the battery swapping process,and re-approach the battery station in step 905 (i.e. restart thebattery swapping process), in some instances (not shown in FIG. 6 ), themethod can comprise, in step 919, the mobile robot 10 correcting itsposition and the method continuing from step 919 to step 907.

Put differently, step 919 can comprise the mobile robot leave thebattery station or the mobile robot correct its positioning on thebattery station. Correcting the positioning can comprise performingrelatively small translational and/or rotational movements. Step 919 canbe followed by step 905 when the mobile robot leaves the battery stationin step 919. Step 919 can be followed by step 907 when the mobile robotcorrects its position instead of leaving the battery station in step919. If the misalignment is smaller than the tolerable misalignment, ina next step 921 the battery station 10 can swap the battery 400 of themobile robot 20. The grabber 350 can grab the discharged battery 400from the mobile robot 20. It can accomplish this by first releasing thelatches 610 (refer to FIG. 3A) that keep the battery 400 fixed to therobot battery holder 602 of the robot 20 and then it can use itsgrabbing grippers 355 to fix the battery 400 to its body. Then, the atleast one controller unit of the station 10 can check the charging units132 to find the unoccupied ones and then based on a specific algorithmit can decide which of the unoccupied charging units 132 to choose. Theat least one controller can then provide the coordinates of the chosenunoccupied charging unit 132 to the handling mechanism 300. The handlingmechanism 300 can position the grabber 350, loaded with the dischargedbattery 400, to the coordinates supplied by the controller unit, whichrefer to the free charging unit 132. The grabber 350, can attach thebattery 400 to the latches 610 of the station battery holder 600 of thecharging unit 132 and then release the battery 400. The battery 400 canstay attached to the station battery holder 600 of the charging unit 132by means of latches 610. The controller can initiate the chargingprocess in the charging unit 132 and also based on specific algorithmscan find a charging unit 132 containing a charged battery 400 andprovide its coordinates to the handling mechanism 300. A charged battery400 can be any battery 400 with an energy level from fully charged tonot empty. The handling mechanism 300 can take the charged battery 400,use the localization elements 343 to find the position of the robotbattery holder 602 of the mobile robot 20, and load the charged battery400 into the robot 20. The robot 20 can now continue performing itstasks with a charged battery 400.

FIG. 7A shows one exemplary embodiment of a mobile robot 20 being servedby the station 10. The mobile robot 20 may be an electric vehicle,autonomous, semi-autonomous or non-autonomous mobile robot 20. In theembodiment of FIG. 7A, the mobile robot 20 can be a delivery robot 20.The mobile robot 20 can be adapted to deliver items to recipients. Saiditems can comprise packages, mail online and in-store purchases,grocery, meals, take-out, beverages, flowers and/or other items that canbe desirable to have delivered. The robot 20 may comprise a robot frame802 and wheels 806 mounted to the robot frame 802. In the depictedembodiment, there are provided a total of 6 wheels 806. The robot 20also comprises a body or housing 810 comprising a compartment adapted tohouse or store the items to be delivered to the addressee or thedelivery recipient (not shown). This compartment may also be called adelivery or item compartment. The body 810 may be mounted on the robotframe 802. The robot 20 also typically comprises a lid 814, alsoreferred to as a cover, adapted to close the body or housing 810. Thatis, the cover 814 may assume a closed position depicted in FIG. 7A andan open position. In the closed position, there can be no access to theitems in the delivery compartment of the body 810. In the open positionof the cover 814 (not depicted), the delivery recipient may reach intodelivery compartment of the body 810 and obtain the items from theinside of the body 810. The robot 20 may switch from the closed positionto the open position in response to the addressee performing an openingprocedure, such as the addressee entering a code or the addresseeotherwise indicating that he/she is in a position to obtain the goodsfrom the robot 20. For example, the addressee may access the deliverycompartment by using a smartphone application or the lid 814 may beautomatically opened once the delivery location can be reached by therobot 20. The robot 20 may also comprise one or a plurality of sensors812, e.g., cameras, to obtain information about the surroundings of therobot 20. Further the plurality of sensors 812 comprise at least oneoptical sensor 812. The robot 20 may also comprise lights 808, such asLEDs 808. Furthermore, in the depicted embodiment, the robot 20 includesa signaling device 816, which may extend upwards.

Typical dimensions of the robot 20 may be as follows. Width: 20 to 100cm, preferably 40 to 70 cm, such as about 55 cm. Height (excluding thesignaling device 816): 20 to 100 cm, preferably 40 to 70 cm, such asabout 60 cm. Length: 30 to 120 cm, preferably 50 to 80 cm, such as about65 cm. The weight of the robot 20 including the transported items may bein the range of 2 to 50 kg, preferably in 5 to 40 kg, more preferably 7to 25 kg, such as 10 to 20 kg. The signaling device 816 may extend to anoverall height of between 100 and 250 cm, preferably between 110 and 200cm, such as between 120 and 170 cm. Such a height may be particularlyadvantageous such that the signaling device 816 and thus the overallrobot 20 can be easily seen by other traffic participants.

The robot 20 can assume requirement for service from station 10, whenits battery 400 is discharged below a threshold level. Such a thresholdlevel can be chosen based on the maximum time that is required for therobot 20 to rich the nearest station 10 from a point in its operationzone. For example, the robot 20 may operate in a certain area Scomprising at least one station 10. In area S there exist at least onepoint d, for which a robot 20 positioned in point d requires energy toreach to the base station 10. In a worst-case scenario, the dischargedthreshold level of the battery 400 would be at least the energy that therobot 20 needs to travel from point d to station 10. In anotherscenario, the threshold may be the mean energy that the robot 20 needsto reach station 10 from different points of operation zone S. Thresholdlevel may be programmed in the robot 20 and/or may be chosen by theoperator of the system.

To detect whether the battery 400 of the mobile robot 20 has reached thethreshold level, the mobile robot 20 needs to measure the voltage of theenergy level of the battery periodically. The robot 20 can accomplishthis by directly measuring the voltage of the battery 400 through theelectrical pins 420 that electrically connect the battery 400 to therobot 20. However, this method of measuring the voltage of the battery400 cannot be very robust. Since robot 20, preferably can be a mobilerobot 20, it would constantly be in move. The movements of robot 20 cancause vibrations of battery 400, and thus vibrations of electrical pins420. Due to these vibrations, the resistance between the electrical pins420 and the contact points of the robot battery holder 602 of robot 20changes, causing false measurements of the voltage of battery 400 ofrobot 20. Furthermore, the vibrations of electrical pins 420 cangenerate electromagnetic noise which can interfere the measurements ofthe voltage of the battery 400 through the electrical pins 420.

To overcome these problems related to battery voltage measurements in amobile robot 20, in a preferred embodiment the battery 400 can beadapted to transmit energy level information to the robot 20. In apreferred embodiment, the battery 400 can comprise a battery statustransmitter 426, such as an IR sensor 426. The IR sensor 426, can beadapted to transmit data related to its energy level, in the IRfrequency band. The robot 20 can be adapted to receive the data sent bythe IR sensors 426 of the battery 400 in the IR frequency band, i.e. therobot 20 can comprise a second IR sensor (not shown). The IR frequencyband includes carries with a frequency in the range 300 GHz to 430 THz.Such frequencies clearly cannot be produced by the normal vibration ofbattery 400 produced while mobile robot 20 moves. Thus, the interferencebetween the electromagnetic waves produced by the vibration of battery400 and the IR band communication between battery 400 and robot 20 canbe avoided. The IR sensors 426 of battery 400 can be programmed toperiodically transmit the energy level of battery 400 to robot 20. Thusrobot 20 can be continuously updated with precise data related tobattery 400 level. Based on this data the robot 20 can decide if thebattery 400 has reached the threshold level or not.

In FIG. 7A, the robot 20 can be positioned so as to be serviced viastation 10. Thus, robot 20 can be positioned in the battery load/unloadposition 115. The robot 20 can drive to the top of station 10 byclimbing the ramp 103 of station 10. The robot 20 can comprise aplurality of optical sensors 812 adapted to sense the horizontal lines105 of station 10. Robot 20 can be programmed to stop after the opticalsensors 812 cannot sense the horizontal lines 105. The robot 20 canalign itself, using guiding elements 105, to the battery load/unloadposition 115.

The mobile robot 20 can comprise a robot battery holder 602 positionedin the base of the robot 20. The robot 20 can further comprise a battery400 attached to the robot battery holder 602. The robot battery holder602 can be adapted such that the battery 400 can be directly accessedfrom the base of the robot 20.

Station 10 can be adapted to access (i.e. load and/or unload) thebattery of a mobile robot 20 positioned in its battery load/unloadposition 115. The battery load/unload position 115 is a battery loadand/or unload position 115. The battery load/unload position 115 in thestation 10, can be adapted such that the battery 400 of the robot 20 andthe surface opening 109 can be aligned within some range of error E.Station 10 can be adapted to overcome the misalignment E, by usinglocalization elements 343, and accessing the battery 400. Station 10 canbe adapted to unload the battery 400 from the robot 20 and putting thebattery in a charging unit 132 for charging. The station 10 can monitorthe level of charge of battery 400 in the charging unit 132. Station 10can be adapted to load a charged battery 400 in robot 20. Station 10 mayindicate to the robot 20 that the battery swapping procedure iscompleted. Robot 20 can be adapted to receive such a message fromstation 10. Robot 20 can be adapted to descent from station 10 when thebattery swapping process has completed.

Referring now to FIG. 7B, a system comprising a station 10 integrated inthe floor 801 of a hub 80 is shown. The hub 80 may be a building 80comprising at least one station 10, preferably a plurality of stations10, and/or a mobile vehicle 80, comprising at least one station 10,preferably a plurality of stations 10. In some preferred embodiments,the hub 80 can comprise a warehouse and/or a micro warehouse. In otherembodiments, the hub 80 can comprise part of a shop and/or a businessreserved for servicing mobile robots 20. In yet other embodiments, thehub 80 can comprise a storage container such a standard transportationcontainer that can be referred to as a hub 80 for mobile robots 20. Sucha hub 80 can then serve to service, maintain, load with items to deliverand/or store one or more robots 20. In other embodiments, the hub 80 cancomprise a vehicle such as a truck that can itself move around, andserve as a hub 80 for one or more mobile robots 20.

The floor 801 of such hub 80 comprises at least one hub floor opening803 adapted to expose the top of the station 10, comprising theidentification element 107, the surface opening 109 and the horizontallines 105 of the station 10. In the system depicted in FIG. 7B the robot20 does not need to comprise means of climbing the station 10. In thesystem depicted in FIG. 7B the station 10 does not need to comprise theramp 103. This implementation of a system comprising at least one mobilerobot 20 and at least one station 10 integrated in the floor 801 of thehub 80, results in a more practical implementation, by preserving spaceand by simplifying the process of battery swapping since the means forclimbing and descending the station 10 are required. Further, in anotherembodiment of such a system, the battery load/unload position 115 mayalso be integrated in the floor 801 of the hub 80. This embodiment canfurther simplify the station 10, since the means for supporting theweight of robot 20 are not required for station 10. Since the batteryload/unload position 115 can be integrated in the floor 801 of hub 80,robot 20 will not weight in the station 10 in any phase of the batteryswapping process, but instead will be weighting on the floor 801. Thefloor 801 can be already adapted to support the weight of robot 20. Inanother embodiment of such a system a floor lid (not shown) can beintegrated in the floor 801 of hub 80, in the positions where stations10 can be located. The floor lid can assume a closed position and anopen position. In a closed position the floor lid lies horizontally onthe floor 801. In an open position the floor lid can allow an operatorto access the station 10 in case of possible system hazards.

Referring now to FIG. 7C, an embodiment of a system comprising at leastone mobile robot 20, at least one station 10 and at least one server 90is shown. The mobile robot 20, station 10 and server 90 can be adaptedto comprise communication means between each other. The server 90 canmonitor the operation of mobile robot 20 and station 10. The server 90may also assume control of the operation of robot 20 and station 10.Server 90 can comprise knowledge of the operation of robot 20 andstation 10 such as: positions of robot 20 and station 10, battery levelof battery 400 of robot 20, battery levels positioned in the chargingunits 132 of station 10, status of charging units 132 of station 10 ifthey can be free or not etc. In such an embodiment, the server 90 cancommunicate to robot 20 information related to the stations 10 comprisedby the system, said information including: ID of nearest station 10, IDof the nearest station 10 that comprise free charging units 132, statusof the chosen station 10 whether it is being used by another robot 20 ornot, distance to the chosen station 10, directions to reach the chosenstation 10, when to start the battery swapping procedure, when thebattery charging procedure is completed etc. The robot 20 can read theidentification element 107 of station 10, and can communicate to thestation 10 ID to the server 90, indicating that station with that ID isbeing used by it. Station 10 may communicate to server 90 the status ofthe process of battery swapping procedure indicating when the procedureis completed. Station 10 can communicate to server 90 the status of itscharging units 132, the charging level of the batteries contained in thecharging units 132 etc. Thus server 90 can manage the operation of sucha system by means of communication between server 90, robot 20 andstation 10.

Whenever a relative term, such as “about”, “substantially” or“approximately” is used in this specification, such a term should alsobe construed to also include the exact term. That is, e.g.,“substantially straight” should be construed to also include “(exactly)straight”.

Whenever steps were recited in the above or also in the appended claims,it should be noted that the order in which the steps are recited in thistext may be accidental. That is, unless otherwise specified or unlessclear to the skilled person, the order in which steps are recited may beaccidental. That is, when the present document states, e.g., that amethod comprises steps (A) and (B), this does not necessarily mean thatstep (A) precedes step (B), but it is also possible that step (A) isperformed (at least partly) simultaneously with step (B) or that step(B) precedes step (A). Furthermore, when a step (X) is said to precedeanother step (Z), this does not imply that there is no step betweensteps (X) and (Z). That is, step (X) preceding step (Z) encompasses thesituation that step (X) is performed directly before step (Z), but alsothe situation that (X) is performed before one or more steps (Y1), . . ., followed by step (Z). Corresponding considerations apply when termslike “after” or “before” are used.

We claim:
 1. A battery station, for use by at least one mobile robot,the battery station comprising: (a) a battery charging unit configuredto perform at least one of: (i) holding at least one battery, and/or(ii) charging at least one battery; and (b) a battery load/unloadposition configured to facilitate loading and unloading of a battery toand from a mobile robot; and (c) a battery handling mechanism configuredto operate on a reaching range, said reaching range comprising at leastone of the following: (i) the battery of the mobile robot positioned inthe battery load/unload position, and/or (ii) the battery charging unit;and (d) a localization element configured to at least one of detect andlocate at least one of the following: (i) at least one battery of themobile robot, wherein the mobile robot is positioned in the batteryload/unload position, and/or (ii) at least one battery positioned in thebattery charging unit.